Vol 06 Issue 33 by Diana James

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Inside Daniel Davies's Rock and Roll Fantasy By Joshua Sindell

Delivers the rich sonic textures for which M83 is well known â&#x20AC;&#x201D; this time with a more focused approach to song structure and form. Featuring the single â&#x20AC;&#x153;Graveyard Girlâ&#x20AC;? As Heard On Indie 103.1!

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Highly anticipated unreleased material. Featuring world renowned W-tang affiliated artists! Artist productions/appearances include Olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dirty Bastard, Return To The 36 Chambers and more!

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Features club banger â&#x20AC;&#x153; Dip Drop Stop Dipâ&#x20AC;? featuring Keak da Sneak. With appearances by Snopp Dogg, Kurupt, Krayzie Bone, Swizz Beats and more!

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SMV is a bass supergroup formed in 2008. The groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name comes from the initials of each of its members, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten. This is their debut release.

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This LA Quartet delivers heavy, melodic rock â&#x20AC;&#x201D; tipping their collective hat to Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Queen and the Beatles.

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Hill earned his stripes as co-founder of the Sacramento-born duo-turned-quintet Hella. Astrological Straits marks the first time heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acted as ringleader, composer, chief vocalist and art director.

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EDITORIAL Editor Rebecca Schoenkopf rebeccas@lacitybeat.com Arts Editor Ron Garmon rong@lacitybeat.com Film Editor Andy Klein andyk@lacitybeat.com Calendar Assistant Arrissia Owen Turner calendar@lacitybeat.com Copy Editor Joshua Sindell Editorial Contributors Paul Birchall, Andre Coleman, Michael Collins, Cole Coonce, Mark Cromer, Perry Crowe, Mick Farren, Richard Foss, Matt Gaffney, Andrew Gumbel, Tom Hayden, Bill Holdship, Jessica Hundley, Chip Jacobs, Mark Keizer, Carl Kozlowski, Kim Lachance, Ken Layne, Steve Lowery, Wade Major, Allison Milionis, Browne Molyneux, Anthony Miller, Chris Morris, Amy Nicholson, Arrissia Owen Turner, Donna Perlmutter, Joe Piasecki, Neal Pollack, Ted Rall, Erika Schickel, Don Shirley, Kirk Silsbee, Brent Simon, Coco Tanaka, Don Waller, Jim Washburn, Wonkette Editorial Interns Gabrielle Paluch, Heather Price, Sarah Tressler, Carman Tse

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News

Letters. Somebody’s got a thing or two to say! Old News. But probably not Steve Lowery. Wonkette’s Weekette! Oh, John Edwards, you smarmy sack. Now you’re screwing high school kids too? Desert Rattler. Ken Layne stalks some sweet little buddies, who then pee themselves in terror. Action of the Week! Sarah Tressler checks out the Jewish World Watch-ers (and Vietnamese protest bogarters) booing China.

Feature Rock and Roll Fantasy. Joshua Sindell says Dave Davies’s kid Daniel and his band Year Long Disaster could save rock and roll like rock and roll saved them.

Living Eat. Richard Foss considers The Lobster. Plus, drink your dinner, in Bites! Shoppiness. There are not many reasons to go to Downey, but Kim Lachance finds one: $19 RuPaul pumps. Curious Josh. Josh Reiss checks in. Psycho Sudoku/Jonesin’ Crossword. Matt Gaffney’s head-scratchers. For scratching your head to. Sit Your Ass Down! Jim Washburn is really crotchety this week, and has a thing or two to say to the whippersnappers at NBC. Also, China. Commie Girl. Rebecca Schoenkopf is mean to a lady who may get cancer. Seriously, what is wrong with her? Real Astrology. Brezsny rocks your chakra.

LA&E Seven Days. Ron Garmon goes through his e-mails. Classical. Donna Perlmutter looks fondly at Eleonore Schoenfeld and wonders how she would have looked at the soloists at the Bowl. Plus a month’s worth of dance events starring you, in Steps. Film. What do you suppose Andy Klein makes of Woody Allen’s latest? Perhaps you should find out? Music. Schoenkopf testifies to the power of Bourbon Jones, reuniting for one night only. Garmon and crew dig through new releases in Merch. Joshua Sindell plots your musical adventure in NightBeat. And Garmon says goodbye to the inimitable Isaac Hayes in Clubland. Stage. Don Shirley is talking ’bout your generation. Plus all the newest reviews in Currently Playing. Third Degree. Ooh, ooh, they’re reminiscing. Garmon bonds with actor and novelist Paul Mantee, all about his monkey. And maybe some Scotch.

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CARING IS SHARING A Prayer for the Riding As someone who has been spending a lot of time on the Gold Line with my bicycle, I realize that no one thought about where a bicycle should go on Metro Rail [Browne Molyneaux’s Tracks, Aug. 7]. We seem to make places (DIY), but it’s not easy. Two days ago some sheriffs yelled at me about blocking the way – I was in the open space by the door with my bike next to the seats. With the train full and other bikes in the space between the car’s two sections and another bike at the doors near the driver’s cab, where was I to go? I met a biker from Austria and he told me in Europe they have hooks for the bikes, so they’re out of the way. Metro needs to do something. And two bikes per bus is nothing. I’m noticing, especially in the last month or so, more riders on Metro Rail with bicycles. It can only get worse. –“BarujBraja” Via lacitybeat.com In the Army Now Having grown up in the 1940s and ’50s, I can appreciate “Generation Kill, Meet Bill” [Jim Washburn’s Sit Your Ass Down, July 31], as I loved Bill Mauldin’s “Up Front,” though the movies Up Front and Back at the Front were box office failures. The U.S. Army has long been a source of humor. Besides Up Front, there was Sad Sack, and in films, there was Charlie Chaplin’s classic Shoulder Arms, Abbott and Costello’s Buck Privates, and one of Martin and Lewis’s earliest, At War with the Army. I tried never to miss Phil Silvers’s classic TV show Sgt. Bilko. At least I can still get a chuckle out of “Beetle Bailey” in the newspaper. –Eddie Cress Sylmar No Dead Man Walken? While I agree with Jim Washburn that Mauldin was cool, I gotta take issue with your Full Metal Jacket as “turgid turd” thing. For me as an Air Force vet, the first half of FMJ is pretty much impeccable, not least so for Ermey playing himself so convincingly. The second half, well, I wasn’t there in

real world. In Air Force, I, at least, was mainly well away from all that. Here’s da fing, though: I would end FMJ without its final scene as done. In my version, the VC sniper lies dead on the floor, with Joker et al. looking down at her, for a moment. Then Machine Gun guy says, “Let’s get out of here,” and the lads exit, leaving dead girl tableau. Fade out. Closing credits as titles only, not even any music. –Charles Hockett Los Angeles Regarding my postcard of a day or two ago: Actually, the best two movies that I know of regarding the U.S. war in Vietnam are Who’ll Stop the Rain? and Cutter’s Way. Who’ll Stop ends a tad unrealistically, I think, in that Marge and John take time, when in mortal danger, to nonetheless bury their dead pal Ray, but other than that I think it’s a damn decent movie of an even better book, Dog Soldiers by Robert Stone (no relation that I know of to Oliver, or to Sharon). –Charles Hockett Los Angeles

BY STEVE LOWERY

Monday, August 4 The California Department of Health says that more than 120 employees of the UCLA Medical Center have been looking at the the medical records of celebrities, even those who don’t have venereal disease. This is outrageous behavior, given that private information like that is thought to be sacred in America, to be seen only by a patient, their doctor, and whoever happens to be over at Dick Cheney’s for cocktails and a couple rounds of orphan skeet. Apparently just about everyone over at UCLA has been looking at the records of Maria Shriver, Farrah Fawcett, Britney Spears, and, to a lesser extent, Shelley Long. (A Couple of White Chicks at the Hairdresser? Really?) Anyway, yeah, everyone at UCLA is looking at celebrities’ junk, a fact some people blame on lax morals, while others point to the day that Harvey Levin was named Chief of Staff. Tuesday, August 5 The L.A. City Council caught a bit of flak when it voted to place a yearlong moratorium on any new fast food joints opening in South Los Angeles. The odd thing is, of course, that in such impoverished areas, the rate of obesity tends to be higher because people are eating a lot of crap. Andrew Pudzer, president of CKE which owns Anaheim-based fast food/soft core porn outfit Carl’s Jr., complained that “it’s not where you eat, it’s what you eat.” Well, what you can eat at Carl’s includes the Breakfast Burger, which has 860 calories, 49 grams of fat, and 1,580 miligrams of sodium. Of course, if you believe that to be a bad choice, you can opt for the 1,060 calorie Prime Rib Six Dollar with its beef patty, prime rib, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, 70 grams of fat, and 2,940 miligrams of sodium (if you ask them to prepare it “Swiss style,” they’ll dip it in chocolate and sprinkle flakes of Nazi gold). Now, you may argue that there are some good choices someone could make at a fast food restaurant and you’d be so, so, sooooo wrong and probably really fat, and most likely holding a tankard of Mountain Dew Code Red. A report released by the Center for Science in the Public Interest looked at the nutritional value of “kids’ meals” at 13 major restaurant chains ranging from KFC to Taco Bell to Chick-fil-A and found that 93 percent of the 1,474 possible combinations of kids’ meals exceeded the recommended 430 calories for kids. Carl’s Jr.? Well, a kids’ hamburger – that’s all, just the hamburger, no Choco-Fries, no Bacon Shake – is 460 calories. Wednesday, August 6 Actually heard guy say this to girl he was apparently courting in Pasadena: “Yeah, I can be obtuse. How many gay friends do you have?”

‘CityBeat’ Skimmed by Westside Woman I skim/read L.A. CityBeat while waiting at my favorite Westside takeout but hadn’t discovered your column before now. Aug. 7’s “Wonkette’s Weekette” was an insightful, tech-savvy, and witty (“Honey let me read you ...”) analysis of the week’s liberal political news. Definitely a fan!! –Judy Federick Via e-mail Now Serving “...which involved mile-long trenches of GMO electric eel DNA ...” [Jim Washburn’s To Serve Man, Aug. 7] HA HA HA HA – I dig it the most. Well written. More please ... . –“gman” Via lacitybeat.com

Send letters to editor@lacitybeat.com or do it up old school: Letters to the Editor, LA CITYBEAT, 5209 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90036.

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Thursday, August 7 A bronze bust of surfing pioneer George Freeth is stolen from its pedestal on the Redondo Beach Pier. Freeth is credited with bringing surfing to the mainland when he moved from Hawaii to California in 1907. At first the theft was thought to be either the work of rowdy teens or bitter log rolling enthusiasts, but police now believe the bust may have been stolen for its copper. As you know, bronze is 80 percent copper – the other 20 percent being tin, duh – and copper is currently selling for a lot of money, which is what happens in disastrous times, the price of precious metals and penicillin goes up. Yep, things have gotten so bad that we’re now in the melting stuff down phase, which, according to the ApocaLitmus test, usually comes right before scorched earth. Friday, August 8 Did you see that the city of Anaheim has hired a firm to give local workers etiquette lessons when dealing with tourists? They’re spending $90,000 to ensure that as Anaheim’s “ambassadors” – those people most likely to meet with tourists, such as cab drivers and hotel workers – their interactions go well for the tourist. Now, why can’t we do that in L.A.? I mean, muggers, how about a “thank you for your time,” after you’ve taken the German civil planner’s watch? Woman who randomly yells stuff about whores and tigers, would it kill you to add a “have a nice day” after you’ve accused someone of giving your cat crabs? Saturday, August 9 I’ve been told the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics was the most spectacular live performance in the history of mankind. I wouldn’t know, I was watching another spectacular performance by comedian Paul F. Tompkins at Largo at the Coronet Theater. Tompkins does a variety show once a month and tonight’s featured Michael Penn, Andy Richter, and some really funny bits on zombies and Ferris wheels. And I know what you’re thinking: All the comic possibilities had been rung out of Ferris wheels years ago by Brecht. No! No, I say! Nein! Also part of the show is David “Gruber” Allen, the dude who played the stoner teacher on Freaks and Geeks and then became the Naked Trucker. He’s the emcee and so incredibly funny, which is impressive since he looks like the dude who played the killer in Manhunter and kinda sounds like KMET’s Jeff Gonzer. When will the buzzing cease? Sunday, August 10 OK, let’s just get something straight. The Olympics are great and it’s fun to watch people competing in country club/ paramilitary sporting events but let’s just end this ridiculous discussion about which is preferable: for Kobe Bryant to win an Olympic gold for his country or another NBA championship for the Lakers. Unless you are the worst kind of person, the answer clearly is another NBA crown. Look, if the U.S. wins gold, I’ll be happy, but if there was a choice between the two, I’d gladly allow every country in the world to beat us by 62 and pee on our players afterwards if it would ensure another Laker championship. A little something I call caring.✶

N<<B<KK< MONDAY Paris Hilton’s Mom to McCain: No You’re Frivolous We told you how Paris Hilton’s grandfather and dad were furious about John McCain’s idiot commercial comparing Barack Obama to white party girls, which was the horrible stunt that finally brought RACE into America’s colorblind politics. But now Paris’s own mom, Kathy Hilton, has published her terse tirade against the campaign her ultra-rich family once supported — she put it right there on Huffington Post, which is Rich America’s version of Twitter. So what does Kathy think of McCain’s comedy gold? “It is a complete waste of the money John McCain’s contributors have donated to his campaign. It is a complete waste of the country’s time and attention at the very moment when millions of people are losing their homes and their jobs. And it is a completely frivolous way to choose the next President of the United States.” See what she did there? McCain’s dumb ad attempted to show Barack Obama as a frivolous candidate because people are excited about his candidacy — oh he’s just famous is all. But Mrs. H calls McCain frivolous for running such a lame ad, which also insulted her magical daughter, who has been through enough without needing to be made fun of by a creepy old man … in a commercial funded by people like the Hiltons. –Ken Layne John Ashcroft’s Saliva for Sale on eBay Once upon a time John Ashcroft was widely regarded as the worst Attorney General ever, until Alberto Gonzales came along and showed America what a truly terrible Attorney General looked like. And then the news came about Gonzales and some other henchmen going to visit Ashcroft on his deathbed to sign some thing or other, and Ashcroft was like, “Eat a dick, Al,” which temporarily endeared him to the 400 Democrats who care about this stuff. The point is, some dude is auctioning off a glass that Ashcroft once drank out of … and the contents are included. Here’s what this intrepid eBay seller wrote about his wonderful item: “This is not a joke. This is actually a glass of former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft’s backwash. [...] It is a few months old. I’m not sure how long backwash stays good. But on close inspection, the water is still clear. There is nothing growing anywhere. I think Ashcroft’s saliva has a strong disinfectant in it that destroys all life. That would explain a few things.” UGGH GROSS SOMEBODY PLS BUY THIS SO WE CAN CLONE JOHN ASHCROFT, THANKS. –Sara K. Smith John Edwards Screwing High School Kids, Too Aging pretty-boy multi-millionaire John Edwards was a senator for a few years

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N<<B<KK< after a lucrative career as a personalinjury lawyer. For some reason, this made him John Kerry’s pretend vice president, which led to a sweeping Edwards fail in this year’s Democratic primary. And now he’s shutting down the scholarship program he started for poor kids at a North Carolina high school. Edwards launched “College for Everyone” in 2005, when he started running for the Democratic nomination for 2008. Through the Center for Promise and Opportunity Foundation — a nonprofit Edwards started and funded — the tuition was paid for 190 kids who wouldn’t otherwise have gone to college. The News & Observer reported Friday: “During his presidential run, Edwards had said he wanted to extend College for Everyone nationally to 2 million students at a cost of $8 billion. Edwards said he would pay for it by changing the way student loans are made, cutting out banks as middlemen. “‘The chance to go to college meant everything in my life, and I want every young person to have the same chance,’ Edwards said last year during a visit to the high school in Snow Hill.” Now he no longer wants every young person to have that chance, plus his political career is finished, so he shut down the whole thing last week, the end. (But will he pay for the college education of his Love Child?) –KL John Edwards Won Father of the Year Award, Nine Months Before Becoming a Father Again On June 7, 2007, John Edwards received a Father of the Year award with his cancer wife Elizabeth in attendance. Rielle Hunter’s child was born on Feb. 27, 2008, making the gap between these two events 8 months and 20 days. In other words, Rielle Hunter was hiding in the podium and John Edwards was literally impregnating her while talking about Fatherhood. Guys next to him are like, “Why’s John impregnating that gal in the podium?” –Jim Newell TUESDAY McCain Offers His Old Lady to GasGuzzling Bikers That John McCain really is a “man of the people,” which is why he went out to the Sturgis biker rally in South Dakota yesterday to praise the slobs for their slavish dependence on Muslim Arab petroleum. “This is my first time here,” McCain told the crowd of fat, tattooed motorcycle fetishists from the suburbs, “but I recognize that sound. It’s the sound of freedom.” The sound, actually, was just these people revving their foreignoil-powered bikes for no reason at all beyond a childlike delight in destroying everybody else’s peace and quiet. Oh, and then McCain offered Cindy to the motorcyclists, in a nod to the old Hells Angels’ tradition of letting everybody bang your old lady. There’s a “beauty contest” of sorts held each summer at the Sturgis rally. And it’s just the kind of honor you’d want to see your wife achieve, if you’re the kind of repulsive old misogynist who calls your wife “trollop” and “cunt.” Indeed, McCain felt so comfortable at the event that he even volunteered his wife for the rally’s traditional beauty pageant, an infamously debauched event

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THE SINGING DUNES BY KEN LAYNE Gasoline prices and the current Economic Collapse play their part, but the abandonment of the unmotorized outdoors has been happening since that other George Bush was president. The U.S. population has added 75 million people since the 1980s, the decade in which human use of national parks, national forests, and state parks peaked.

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n a cool morning, no deadlines, empty house, I throw a sleeping bag and two bottles of wine in the truck and head up the 15. The interstate is relatively sane, what with the crashing economy and $4 gasoline. Plus, it’s early Saturday morning. The Vegas-bound mooks headed out on Friday night. The AM real-estate show from Las Vegas says everything’s “bad and getting worse.” I switch to the Mojave National Preserve information station once I see the sign in Barstow. There’s something about a scratchy recording of a lady ranger reading aloud from a Park Service brochure. She lists all the terrible ways one can die on a routine desert outing, and how to prevent them: Bring water, wear a hat. Goddammit, where’s my hat? I stop at a Baker gift shop next to the old Bun Boy-turned-Big Boy diner, the giant thermometer letting people know what it’s like outside of the car, and find an ugly camouflage Chinesesweatshop wide-brimmed hat for $12 that just barely fits my skull. Minutes later, the simple concrete Mojave National Preserve entrance sign welcomes me to 1.6 million acres of extraordinary desert. There is no entrance fee, no line of RVs, no Park Service booth, no Smokey Bear ranger to hand you a brochure. The frantic hassle of Interstate 15 and the Vegas-L.A. corridor is gone, immediately replaced by silence and creosote and sand, the Marl Mountains rising up to the southeast and Kelso Peak straight ahead. It is one of those Panavision Western Widescreen Views, and it’s just a few minutes away from one of the busiest interstates in the West, and if you stop your car in the middle of the two-lane to investigate a Red Racer snake zooming along the roadside, there’s nobody around to complain. What I need to see is a desert tortoise, in the wild. I started coming out here in the 1980s and I’ve never come across one of the Living Fossils. I must see tortoises, while we still have some. They used to be so common in springtime that campers would fill their pockets with the

babies and imprison the gentle critters as backyard pets. But it’s too late today, and the sun is already cooking through the morning cloud cover. I try various dirt roads, put on my dumb hat, walk down washes and trails, seeing many burrows but no actual shelled denizens. Time to hike the Kelso Dunes. I take Kelbaker Road across the Union Pacific tracks – America’s busiest freight corridor runs through the middle of Mojave National Preserve – while it’s still cool enough for a pleasant walk. It’s a gorgeous 79-degree Saturday and there are no cars parked at the trailhead. When you add Las Vegas and Phoenix to the mix, 30 million people live within a few hours’ drive of this magnificent park, and nobody’s here. I don’t know whether to laugh or curse. Ah, right. I laugh. These are Singing Dunes. They make strange music, punctuated by strange booms. I trudge through clouds of sandcolored grasshoppers, the sand whistling like some melancholy gypsy violin. There are brave and beautiful flowers still bursting from these harsh sand hills. Some are tiny and lie close to the ground, others are bursting from brush and stem and dune weeds housing happy little birds. I see a vague movement under a fuzzy gray bush, and hold my camera over it. A Mojave fringe-toed lizard shakes its tail and dives into the sand. After I’ve trudged back through the sand, I see exactly two cars – an elitist Subaru and four-wheel-drive BMW – parked at the trail head. The occupants must’ve taken another route up the hill. What to make of this scarcity of people upon these rare lands set aside for people to enjoy? Why isn’t anyone outside? The trail and the campfire used to be common ground for common middle-class people, just two decades ago. Now we’re bored of silence, scared of bugs, terrified of snakes, and only understand wildlife in lurid teevee terms. “Toddler eaten by hungry coyote five years ago; fat mom was inside stripping for Web-Cam.”

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p at dawn, I’m headed down Morningstar Mine Road, in the northeast part of the preserve, the Ivanpah Valley, looking for tortoises, looking for a dirt road just beyond the power lines, but end up over the railroad track and nearly to the mine. I backtrack, fail, and finally give up and take the dirt road beneath the massive high-tension double power line towers that cross this valley like giant robot monsters on their way to destroy Los Angeles. There’s a mild buzz, from the electricity surging through those lines a hundred feet above me. This is absurd. Coke cans and beer bottles and a rubber mudflap from a pickup truck line the sandy utility road, it’s all horrible ... and there’s a tortoise, lumbering along. I shut the engine, grab my camera, get out as slowly and quietly as possible, and approach the desert tortoise. He (she?) looks up, blinking in the sun. “Don’t mind me, buddy,” I say, snapping pictures. “Just getting your picture. For the yearbook.” Blink. It’s a full-sized adult tortoise, beautiful burnished brown plates, fine patterns, and shiny varnish. About two feet long, eight inches tall, the elephant feet strong and steady. This one’s been breakfasting on little yellow flowers, one sitting atop the shell. I head down a jackrabbit trail away from the power lines, to give it space. I count a hundred burrows in a few minutes of walking, noting the fresh tracks outside many of them, and the perfect situation of flowers and desert grasses growing just outside of so many of them, the tortoise’s personal salad bar. But it’s already too hot, and for the moment the sky is perfectly clear and blue, and there’s no breeze or shade. I should’ve been up an hour before dawn. Driving slowly back to Nipton, I watch the rocky road shoulders. There’s another one, munching baby-blue flowers a foot away from the pavement. Good god, man, get off the road! I pull over and walk back to see this buddy. It is shy, unlike the first one, and retracts head and legs into a yellow-green shell. We have no business moving them, for their own safety, as the tortoise has a peculiar habit of pissing itself when frightened – and that urine is its water supply during the long dry summer. There’s one more tortoise on the roadside, crushed by a car.✶

N<<B<KK< that’s been known to feature topless women. “I encouraged Cindy to compete,” McCain said to cheers. “I told her with a little luck she could be the only woman ever to serve as first lady and Miss Buffalo Chip.” Add “Miss Buffalo Chip” to the list of foul things McCain calls his wife — it means “bison shit.” –KL WEDNESDAY Suspicious Pics of Edwards and Rumored Love Child At Last! So the whole time this Edwards Love Child scandal has been breaking and breaking, everybody has been asking the same question: Where are the photos of John Edwards cowering in a Beverly Hills hotel bathroom and acting seedy all over the place? Well, the National Enquirer has finally delivered the goods, in the form of SPY PHOTOS revealing an Edwards-type figure hoisting aloft a remarkably human-looking child. Even more intriguing is another photo that shows Edwards in a sweat-stained tee shirt drawing the blinds with the demented expression of an evil surgeon about to perform an involuntary limb removal. Just more proof that, without the makeup and the AH WILL FAHT FOR THE VAWSLESS speeches, he can come across as a scary, soulless creep. –SKS

JEWISH WORLD WATCH VIGIL Thursday, August 7 “If you can’t sacrifice one hour, what hope is there?” That’s the sentiment of Patrick Malkoum. “One hour of your life is nothing compared to years of suffering by other people,” he said. As Beijing made final preparations for the 2008 Olympics, some 300 participants planted themselves in front of the Chinese Consulate in downtown L.A. Thursday. The Jewish World Watch was protesting China’s financial and diplomatic support of Sudan in spite of the crisis in Darfur. A group of Vietnam sympathizers was also present to protest China’s occupation of several of Vietnam’s outlying islands. The crowd was a mishmash of flag-wavers, sign-holders and anthem-singers. Malkoum, representing the Marymount chapter of Stand, a genocide intervention group, is 16. Next to him stood Luong Tran, a 67-year-old Vietnamese retiree. “As a citizen of free Vietnam, I had to make my contribution,” said Tran. “China is not a good neighbor. They grab small neighboring countries.” Jewish World Watch has been holding protests outside the Chinese Consulate for the last six months to bring attention to China’s role in the ongoing conflict in Darfur. China is Sudan’s largest foreign investor and reportedly supplies them with aircraft and weapons. Naama Haviv, the JWW assistant director, said she didn’t feel like the Vietnamese were bogarting the protest. “We understand that the Olympics provides an opportunity for many to shine the spotlight on China. The fact that there were people protesting issues other than complicity in Darfur just proves China’s terrible human rights record,” she said. The crowd chanted “Down with communism,” and called on “Red China” to do everything from freeing Mongolians to stopping the inhumanity in Darfur. Signs held by the protestors promised they wouldn’t be tuning in to the 2008 Olympics. Every other passing driver, it seemed, let out a chorus of honks. The crowd spilled out into the street at times, where police were standing by to keep the melee from getting out of control. To Naama Haviv, the police were a good sign. “We do know that the consulate was particularly concerned about vigils today, as they made more requests than usual for safety and monitoring from both the LAPD and the State Department,” she said. Despite any concerns, the Chinese Consulate didn’t come out and join the party. In fact, according to Neil Nguyen, a protest coordinator who has been at several protests outside the consulate, they never do. “They just look down from the window. They never come down,” he said. –Sarah Tressler

Newt Gingrich, Hobo Republican Congressmen Relive Glory Days in Empty Congress The loser Republicans who refuse to take their vacation and are holding a Cuddle Party about energy on the House floor instead have employed, who else, Newt Gingrich to get their message out! Gingrich heads a 527 called American Solutions for Winning the Future, or ASWF. The acronym is pronounced “Ass Whoof,” like a fart, which it is. Oh, how pathetic is this? Don’t they remember that Gingrich lost everything? Or that drilling oil here doesn’t cut imports at all, which is the point, because we want more of this oil in toto for lower prices, which is bullshit anyway? Now we’re just going to be EXPORTING to the CHINESE or WHOEVER PAYS THE MOST? Oh criminy, why even bother? –JN THURSDAY John McCain Assembles Army of Commenters, Enticed by Valuable Prizes You know how Barack Obama’s people have the whole “Fight the Smears” thing, where you copy and paste some text that says, “I’m very disappointed in you, Barack Obama does not worship the Shark God even though he is from Hawaii” and you spam it all over the place? Well, about FOUR MILLION YEARS after the Democrats came up with this crazy idea that they could “harness the power of blogs” or whatever, John McCain’s Internet wizards have finally unveiled their own version called, let’s see, Spread the Word. Because they are Capitalist Pigs, they offer material incentives to their “volunteers,” such as three minutes in heaven with Miss Buffalo Chip in exchange for spamming 4,000 liberal blogs with claptrap. Of course, volunteers are encouraged to use their own words, but creativitity is for liberal pussies. Fortunately, they provide some Talking Points, which it seems you

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could copy and paste, if you are a cheater. The Issue: Partisanship “There are serious issues at stake in this election, and serious differences between the candidates. And we will argue about them, as we should. But it should remain an argument among friends; each of us struggling to hear our conscience, and heed its demands; each of us, despite our differences, united in our great cause, and respectful of the goodness in each other.” Ugh, do you hear that? That is the voice in your head imitating John McCain reading that, and then drowning itself in a puddle. –SKS Kwame Kilpatrick Goes to Jail The mayor of Detroit keeps getting into comical scrapes, which is great because any time the Detroit Free Press needs to fill its news hole they just look out the window and see what kind of buffoonery Kwame Kilpatrick is engaged in at that hour of the day. In our latest installment, the judge presiding over the mayor’s EIGHT FELONY CASES tells him to go to jail after he visits Canada. Detroit, we understand, is right near the Canadian city of Windsor, and there is some sort of a tunnel running between the cities called “the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.” On July 23, Kilpatrick met with the mayor of Windsor to talk about selling Detroit’s half of the tunnel. FAIL, KILPATRICK! The judge was so mad he sent him immediately into the slammer, where Kilpatrick immediately began exchanging salacious texts with millions of Canadian citizens, telling them he was eager to re-enter their Windsor Tunnels. –SKS Black and White The American People see Barack Obama’s ads as positive, hopeful messages of hopefulness, while John McCain’s commercials are universally seen as cheap, bitter little sacks of negative bile. That’s why 48% of The People, according to UPI, are tired of hearing about Obama. –KL Straight Talk Express Demolishes Minivan in Florida John McCain’s armored mammoth-of-death, the famous Straight Talk Express bus, completely destroyed a minivan making a right turn yesterday in Miami. The minivan was holding a black person, maybe, we don’t actually know. The Straight Talk Express was holding Joe Lieberman. Just saying. The idiot bus wasn’t even carrying John McCain — just Joe Lieberman and a slave boy. It was in the left-only lane and tried to make a right turn. Little cars do this all the time, and it’s annoying. But when 500 million-pound Republican tanks try to do this, they usually end up destroying cars filled with black people. (In truth, we have no idea to which race the minivan driver belonged. Anyway,) It totally trashed this black guy’s car! –JN Republican Missouri State Rep. Caught Banging 14-Year-Old “JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri state Rep. Scott Muschany, R-Frontenac, was indicted today in connection with a reported sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl on May 17, the day after this year’s Legislative session ended.” What, were all the 14-year-old boys already taken by the other celebrating

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N<<B<KK< Republican legislators? According to the 14-year-old girl’s brother, their mother — a state employee — has been fucking Muschany for a couple of years now. In other words, Muschany was working an old college trick: get with the fug roommate and then move on to the hot roommate. Although in this case the fug roommate is an adult woman, and the hot roommate is the adult woman’s 14-year-old daughter, so this is, what’s the word, awful rape induced by alcohol. Just like in college! Oh and of course: “In 2006, Muschany was a co-sponsor of legislation that toughened sex offender laws.” –JN Straight Talk Express Will Vote for Obama, Too Poor Straight Talk Express, it sure had an awful go of things yesterday. At some point, either before or after it crushed an elderly black handicapped war veteran hero’s minivan, some rascally kids put an Obama bumper sticker on it. Check out the first comment on this website, too: “We were planning on doing that in my home town in iowa with a Ron Paul sticker, but decided against it as we figured it would upset people rather than make them laugh.” Huh? –JN

cake will have your ass in January, Joe. –JN New McCain Ad Says More Crap About Nothing John McCain’s latest idiot ad claims, get this, that Celebrity Obama’s tax plan will ruin FAMILIES and SENIORS and FLORIST START-UP BUSINESSES. Apparently, these types all fit into the top 10-20% of earners, because everyone else will

have more money under the Obama tax plan. Also, since McCain doesn’t like to admit that he’ll have to cut about 80% of Medicare under his plan in order to be anywhere near fiscal stability, maybe he, we dare say, is KILLING SENIORS. Which, come to think of it, would be an objectively good thing. –JN John Edwards’s Admission That He Is

Sleazy & Gross So John Edwards has admitted to banging that broad, Rielle. ABC News has posted a nice long story about what he will tell one of the Woodruffs on teevee tonight. Since it is Friday, none of your editors wanted to write a real, thorough post about this. –SKS Weekette is brought to you by the sloths at Wonkette.com.

metro.net/nightlife

We’re on Sunset, after sunset.

FRIDAY

Joe Lieberman Ruined by Obama Cake in Bus Crash More information has leaked about the Straight Talk Express destroying America’s minivans in Miami on Wednesday, a.k.a. “The Monica Lewinsky Scandal.” What of the bus passenger asshole Joe Lieberman, was he hurt in the crash? No, but he was attacked by a biracial cake: “A little more to that Miami traffic accident yesterday involving Joe Lieberman aboard the Straight Talk Express: Turns out the impact sent a staffer’s chocolate birthday cake with thick white frosting smack into the Connecticut senator.” The black and white

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McCain Economic ‘Surge’ Would Add Thousands of Troops to Aid War on Economy A leaked McCain campaign memo outlines the Republican candidate’s bold plan for the American economy. It goes something like this: WAR WAR WAR WAR TAXCUTS WAR. Applying some valuable lessons from our adventure in Iraq, the McCain economic “surge” will ferret out the last weakened remnants of the American economy and wage a bitter street-by-street countereconomic strategy until, in the end, we will be able to hand over stewardship of a penniless nation to our grateful children and grandchildren. OK for reals here are the three “big ideas” behind the McCain strategy, according to McCain communications adviser Taylor Griffin: 1. McCain understands the economic problems of ordinary Americans. Barack Obama does not. 2. McCain understands that the situation is urgent. 3. McCain’s “Jobs for America” plan is superior. Hmm, seems like two of the prongs on the three-pronged strategy involve John McCain “understanding” things. Is America ready for such fearless leadership? –SKS

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SE E YA AT TH E FEST IVAL!

L-R: Rich Mullins,Daniel Davies, Brad Hargreaves

Daniel Davies is rock and roll royalty. Fronting the excellent Year Long Disaster, he won’t be known as ‘Dave’s kid’ for long BY JOSHUA SINDELL

PHOTO BY DAN MONICK

t’s a balmy July Tuesday on the Sunset Strip, and while rock may not be dead, Tower Records is, the Sunset Virgin Megastore is, and Book Soup no longer stays open till midnight. Instead, there’s more than a faint whiff of eau du party’s over. The action at the Whisky, the Roxy, the Key Club, the Cat Club ... it’s all still there, and every now and again, some guy and his guitar come along to prove that there’s a pulse beating subtly. A few straggling burnouts pace up and down between Doheny and Holloway, asking for change, mingling with visiting kids from the Midwest wondering where the hell Slash is hanging. Hell, they’ll settle for Faster Pussycat’s Taime Downe, if he’ll pose for a cell phone snapshot. ➤

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Inside the Viper Room, though, tonight Downe’s actually doing a pretty good job at his gig spinning records, earning his keep by throwing on slabs of hard-rocking UFO and AC/DC and Thin Lizzy songs, all played at dizzying volume, while the bands who are performing that night set up and haul off their gear, the endless parade of beat-up amps and drums hoisted into dusty pickup trucks. Daniel Davies crosses the road from where the SST Superstore used to do business, the corner of Larrabee and Sunset. He’s easy to recognize, even though he’s wearing glasses; a 28-year-old lean stringbean with dark, curly hair, long legs crossing the street in quick, loping strides. His band, the power-trio Year Long Disaster, won’t be taking the stage at the Viper Room for another couple of hours, but Davies radiates calm. The group has been steadily gigging all over the world these days, and while tonight he might get to sleep in his own bed, the band played just the night before out of state. Sitting in the van’s passenger seat, he plays a new song over the stereo; an asyet-unreleased cover the group did for an upcoming Iron Maiden tribute disc that British magazine Kerrang! is producing as a freebie for the following month. Year Long Disaster, which formed four years ago, will be sharing space on the disc with far more famous bands, such as Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, and Dream Theater. Davies slightly nods his head in time to the crunching beat of their version of the Maiden chestnut “Running Free.” “We’ll be doing a cover of a Rose Tattoo song tonight,” he says. “Matt’s going to join us again for that.” He’s talking about Matt Maiellaro, co-creator of the popular animated Adult Swim program Aqua Teen Hunger Force, as well as an accomplished guitarist. Maiellaro had discovered Year Long Disaster when an assistant had played the group’s debut album in the office, and before long found himself animating the band in a video for the group’s song “Leda Atomica,” and even later jumping on stage at another Viper Room jam to play the tune with them. (Maiellaro wasn’t the only guest that night: Billy Duffy of the Cult leaped onstage to play as well.) Little fazes Daniel these days, not after a gloriously misspent youth, dabbling with every hard drug he could find. Now, a promising future beckons. Year Long Disaster has just finished opening for Velvet Revolver in Europe for that band’s final tour with former singer Scott Weiland. In a day, YLD are hitting the road for several arena shows with the Foo Fighters. (An impressed Dave Grohl, seeing them win over audiences, will swiftly extend the invitation for them to play another week’s worth of concerts.) Then comes another tour of Europe on the festival circuit. Then they go out with Motörhead in the States, and ... oh, yeah, there’s a second Year Long Disaster album to record for early 2009.

When the group finally walks onstage at the Viper Room, it’s a casual crowd that greets them: a small coterie of friends, well-wishers, and record company folk. Word still isn’t quite out on them yet, and for now Year Long Disaster is a minor player on the scene. But this doesn’t stop Davies and company from roaring through their set like a bullet train. Drummer Brad Hargreaves and bassist Rich Mullins lock into a thoroughly seductive groove, over which Davies plays his chugging rhythms and squealing leads, singing in a high voice reminiscent of Robert Plant and Jeff Buckley; the sound is neither retro nor futuristic, but, like the best songs of Jack White, the tunes are hard rock that is both of its time and timeless. Onstage, Davies is a cocky kid, strutting and grinning at his own lookwhat-I-just-did! Fender Strat prowess. The find-’em and fuck-’em track that leads off the group’s self-titled debut album, “Per Qualche Dollaro In Piu” (“For a Few Dollars More”), sees him swaggering like some bad-ass lothario of the wild, wild, West. The crowd laps it all up and howls for more. Near the end of the set, Mullins quietly starts to play a five-beat bass line, all one note, which slowly turns into something seductive and sinuous; Ravel’s Bolero filtered through a stonerrocker’s sensibility. Again, a few whoops from the audience, cheering the arrival of “Swan on Black Lake,” the familiar closing number. Most of the set thus far has been straight-forward rockers, but this isn’t like those. Davies approaches the microphone but never sings directly into it, using the full-blown power of his voice to rocket the lyrics over the crowd without amplification: “A break in routine/ May cause you to crack/ Under pressure received.” The words are sung with tenderness, but performed in full scream. But when he arrives at the chorus, young Daniel Davies – a ringer for young Howard Stern, actually, in Private Parts – is completely transformed. Every ounce of him is completely enraptured in his words, the tale seemingly of addiction, control, and, ultimately, surrender: “A break in your self-defense won’t change things/ Cause it’s you I deserve.” He breathes deeply, the last words before the band simply erupts into a thunderous coda: “And I’ll follow ... and I’ll fade.” Sweat pours off of the trio as they rage, and it’s apparent to all that here’s a formidable new talent to be reckoned with. Daniel, son of Dave Davies – guitarist for the Kinks and creator of the first and arguably most primal heavymetal riffs ever – has arrived.

he Kinks, of course, were one of the only so-called British Invasion bands, along with the Rolling Stones, to survive the ’60s and maintain successful careers into the next decade. Dave Davies,

rumored to have taken a razorblade to his amplifier cone to create a fuzz-tone hitherto unknown to (axe)man, created the riffs to “You Really Got Me” and “All Day and All of the Night,” and overnight birthed a thousand garage bands. The Kinks were also notable, if not infamous, for the incredible animosity that bred, and occasionally overflowed, between Ray and Dave Davies, brothers but rarely friends. Daniel Davies doesn’t speak much about the Kinks. He claims he’s not in contact with Uncle Ray and that side of the family, but he does proffer this tidbit about his dad: When Daniel was 13, he went through a drumming phase – an extension of his constant misplaced aggression, he admits. But he was fairly serious about playing the drums until his dad steered him away: “You don’t wanna be a drummer,” he said. “They get the least amount of girls and they don’t make any money.” Next thing you know, there’s a brand new guitar for young Daniel to play.

from his fellow bandmates and had to hide his copious heroin use behind their backs. Then, on a San Francisco night in 2001, in a haze, Mullins abandoned Speedealer’s van, and thieves broke in and stole some of band’s belongings. “The guys thought that I had set it up, that I had either stolen the stuff myself and pawned the two guitars or had someone else do it, so that I could get drugs,” he explains. Mullins was kicked out of the band the next day, Speedealer itself calling it quits soon after. “They left me there on the street with no money. I had a calling card with two minutes left on it. I called

avies and Rich Mullins are sitting in the office at their shared home in Studio City. It’s around midnight on a Monday in August, and neither one of them is drinking anything stronger than water. Mullins sits at the desk next to the computer while Davies bends his legs in his chair so that his shoulders are touching his knees. You get the sense that Mullins is the business head of the band and the one who spends the most energy keeping the train on the rails. Both he and drummer Hargreaves are around 10 years older than Davies, and there’s an interesting codependency that slowly reveals itself. Davies relies on them for judgment and direction, and the rhythm section needs a frontman with charisma to spare. Despite Daniel’s reliance on him, Mullins was almost doomed to a junkie’s life, crushed with disappointment over the failure of his former bands. The memories come from someplace dark in both of them, and sometimes as they reveal them they have difficulty forming the thoughts into words. A grimace darkens their faces at the recollection of something particularly painful, which soon clears at the onset of a moment of repose or sadness at the thought of a severed relationship. Former addicts have their moments of pride, but it’s always tinged with shame and sadness. West Virginia native Mullins helped form Karma to Burn in 1997, a trio that would release three albums of acclaimed heavy rock – hampered commercially, somewhat, by the lack of a lead singer and, naturally, lyrics – before joining the similar-sounding Speedealer. Mullins was a user of hard drugs throughout his life, and his substance abuse problem soon came to a head. Mullins admits he stole

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PHOTO BY STEPHEN ALBANESE

the friend I’d stayed with in the Bay Area, and with the remaining time left I called a girl in Belgium that I knew, and with some persuading she got me a flight there.” He would spend the next two years in Europe, bumming around Amsterdam, mostly, never really expecting to come home again or a life without drugs. It would be a few years before he felt the urge to return to the States, admittedly just “going where the wind blows.” A chance meeting with Davies the very day he landed at LAX would change his life. The “broken-home kid” himself was born in London, but spent his later childhood growing up a withdrawn Los Angeles teenager. His parents would separate, and he would later live with his godfather: horror-movie auteur John Carpenter.

“I was always so angry, man,” Davies quietly recalls, working out why he fell into using drugs. “I was just, I wanted to feel different. I dunno. It was exciting to me. Anything I’m not supposed to do, I’m going to do instantly.” He was the only lad in his English neighborhood with a baseball bat, he says, thanks to his American-born mother, and it became a favorite plaything in those violent frenzies which would often grip him. (He says his folks always seemed to wonder why all of his toys had gaping holes or large dents in them.) “My dad’s studio was my bedroom, which was

soundproofed,” he continues. “My bedroom door was like five inches thick, with all this insulating fabric on the wall. I got a knife and just cut the whole room apart one time.” As with so many other junior alcoholics, it would start for Davies with his parents’ liquor cabinet, stealing bottles and stashing them in his bedroom. From then on, it seemed that a life doing drugs was the only thing he devoutly wished. “I remember playing Pictionary,” he grins. “I must have been 12 years old, and the word I had to draw was ‘high.’ I had once seen a picture of John Lennon with a spoon and heroin or coke, and I drew a picture of that, and all the kids were like, ‘What is that?’ and I said ‘It’s a nose, with drugs ... get high!’

And I got in so much trouble!” he laughs. “All the parents, everyone was like, ‘What the fuck is wrong with this kid?’ And I was like, ‘It just seemed cool! You know, rock and roll!’ I guess I was a little young for things like that, but I wanted to be different from everybody.” His rock-star father would write letters to his school, explaining to the principal that “Daniel shouldn’t have homework, as he spends all day there. He should not have to work, he should be able to play.” But this didn’t have the desired effect, and Davies was placed in a series of high schools, where his English accent made him feel even more like a freak. “I was never able to have any close friends because I was always going to a different school because of whatever was going on in my life. I went to six high schools, everywhere from Los Angeles to the Valley, to up north in Marin County ... different places where everyone was already friends with everybody since they were six years old or whatever. Everyone was really mean and teases you because you’re English, and you’re just like fuck, fuck these people. I’m not here for your fucking entertainment.” He scowls. “I hate when American people do English accents. It’s the most obnoxious fucking thing in the world. ‘Say that word, it sounds funny!’” (Even a careful ear would be hard-pressed to discern any English accent in Davies’s speaking voice today.) For work, he got jobs from his godfather on a couple of his movie sets, and Davies would graduate high school, but not until his godparents issued ultimatums. They felt powerless to affect their godson’s substance abuse problems; by his late teens, Davies had started smoking crack cocaine. He recalls his godmother saying to him that she wished he would crash into a tree so he would “wake up.” At 20 he was living in a Hollywood apartment near Vine and Melrose without power, owing months of back rent, using candles for light. Mullins and Davies first met when Mullins saw him buying some booze at the Pavilions market across the street from where Davies was living, and asked him if he knew where to score. They first saw each other as perfect drug buddies, but after bonding with music, they recognized a shared hunger for something beyond the next fix. “It didn’t really make sense to me when I later discovered that his dad was pretty famous,” shrugs Mullins, “and he was living like he was. I would have expected him to be pretty wealthy, but he was poorer than me, and I’d been a drug addict for a long time. I got help here and there, but I got to the point where no one was going to help me because I was just going to spend it and snort it.” But Mullins also recognized in Davies a talented guitar player. “He knows stuff you can’t teach,” he enthuses. “He’s got a rhythmic skill that’s ingrained.”

The duo eventually found a place to stay with Davies Sr., but after seeing their state and failure to improve, the family finally gave up. “My mom was like, you guys should try to go to rehab,” says Daniel. “I was like, I don’t know ... but then one night I would burp and this liquid would come out of my mouth, and I just couldn’t drink any more, and instead of feeling good, I just felt really bad. This wasn’t working for me anymore. I had 76 cents, and I threw everything I had into this little hatchback. I had to reason with Rich that we needed to go because we couldn’t do anything, anymore. We weren’t in a band, we weren’t practicing, no anything. It was pretty pathetic. My dad was like, ‘You guys have got to get out of here, I’m going to back to England. You can’t stay here.’ So there we were with no money and nowhere to live. It was a choice between being homeless and rehab, and since rehab looked like a place to live, we made that decision.”

rad Hargreaves calls in from the road. He often shuttles between the Bay Area and L.A. like the in-demand working musician he is. The Marin County-born drummer has been a member of the San Francisco alternative rock band Third Eye Blind (“Semi-Charmed Life,” “Jumper,” etc.) since 1995, and August sees him heading into the studio to lay down tracks for Stephan Jenkins and crew. Hargreaves says that he’s played far more with Year Long Disaster than the other group in the past two years. “I guess that Year Long is still the ‘mistress’ at this time,” he admits. “It’s a bit of a problem in that both are working very hard right now.” Post-rehab and sober, Davies and Mullins found a drummer and played a gig at the Scene, a bar in Glendale, which is where they also first saw Hargreaves in one of his side projects. It wasn’t long before Hargreaves had fallen into the Year Long Disaster fold. “Third Eye Blind had performed as the Kinks on a show called American Dreams,” marvels Hargreaves, “and six months later I’m there in Glendale. I was intrigued by the fact that I had just played Kinks songs on TV, and now I was opening up, so to speak, for Daniel Davies! That was interesting, but more than anything, when I saw them play, my jaw dropped.” With a band in place, soon they were signing a deal with Orange County-based label Volcom Entertainment, and released their first album. Then Mullins decided to put his young frontman to the test. “Daniel hadn’t been out of Los Angeles since he was in high school, and my feeling is that you have to play all the little shitholes across the country in order to find out if you’re worth your salt. You can sit here and suspect that you might have something cool, but you have to see what

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happens when you’re in, say, Baltimore.” Thus far, Davies has responded to and blossomed with his friend’s encouragement, and agrees that the others provided a level and place of comfort for him to succeed. “What I wanted was to get in a band with guys that kind of know more than me, so they can push me. I knew that I had something going on, but I didn’t really have any direction ... . I never really had any direction throughout my life. So I was like, I need a band with some guys who know what’s going on, and if I know that they’re the best at what they do, then I think I’ll be able to do whatever I want.” The acid test will occur in the months ahead, when time will tell if Year Long Disaster can bring solid hard rock back to a mainstream that seems to be smitten with ’tween poppers like the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus. Some are willing to bet that Davies has that same special something, like a Kurt Cobain, a Josh Homme, or a Jack White. One of those guys who bridge the gap between an easily distracted pop audience and diehard fans of rock and roll. But for now, they’re still a little old power trio from L.A., bonded by a mutual respect. Recalls Mullins of the bad old days, “There was a night when we listened to Percy by the Kinks [the soundtrack to the 1971 cult flick about a man undergoing a penis transplant]. [Daniel] put it on for me, and it just sounded so organic. That was strange, because when you’re really high all the time like I was, and especially if it’s crack, you’re not really listening, and you can’t really focus on anything for more than 15 seconds ... you don’t want to do anything. But that was kind of the start of making music again.”

t’s a Friday night at the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard, four nights after our interview. His tour ended, Dave Grohl stands near the front of the stage, seemingly unaccosted by most of this halfcapacity crowd, and swigs a beer. Or two. At least he makes one expected drummer in the House. Brad Hargreaves is absent, and Year Long Disaster will play without him tonight, using a substitute. Hargreaves’s commitment to two bands may be causing some conflict. The sub is fine, but but it’s not as if YLD is flying at full strength with him behind the kit. Benefiting from his time on the Foo Fighters’ massive stage, Davies has started to work the crowd more than ever before; he encourages a clap-along, settling into a larger-than-life aura like someone to the manor born. Dave’s kid no more, no longer that youngster tearing up dad’s studio, but tearing into willing audiences. Uncle Ray may have sung about being “Tired of Waiting for You,” but his nephew’s not holding back any longer. The crowd cheers. Drinks. Smiles. The party may not be over just yet.✶

metro.net

Metro Briefs

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The Solution To High Gas Prices. Go Metro. With gas prices at staggering levels, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been a better time to Go Metro. For little more than the price of a gallon of gas, you can buy a $5 Day Pass and ride virtually any Metro bus or rail line all day long. Plot your escape from the pump with our Trip Planner at metro.net.

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Voters To Get Transportation Sales Tax Measure

A Â˝-cent sales tax to finance an array of transportation projects throughout the county is heading for this Novemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ballot. If approved, the new tax would provide some $40 billion over 30 years for dozens of street and highway improvements and new public transit projects in LA County.

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New Metro Map Available Online Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to see all that Metro has to o=er. A new redesigned, simple-to-read bus and rail system map details 73 miles of Metro Rail, some 200 Metro Local lines, 25 fast and frequent Metro Rapid routes along with all the municipal carriers. See it online at metro.net.

Places To Go, Things To Seeâ&#x20AC;Ś And Metro Discounts, Too! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the high cost of driving ruin your days o=. Metro has convenient bus and rail routes to most Southland destinations. Plus, Metro riders enjoy special discounts each month on a variety of concerts, sporting events, plays, family entertainment and more. Check the latest Destination Discounts at metro.net.

Batter Up! New Shuttle Serves Dodger Stadium

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to know more, please call us at 1.800.464.2111, or visit metro.net.

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Catch the rest of the Dodger season without tra;c jams and parking hassles. Go Metro to Union Station and take the new free shuttle to Dodger Stadium. It leaves from in front of Union Station on Alameda Street beginning 90 minutes before each game. The shuttle is provided by the City of Los Angeles.

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CONSIDER THE LOBSTER A waterfront seafood house with style BY RICHARD FOSS two, and reasonably priced for the quality of fresh fish. The crab cake was slightly less satisfying – the sauce had authentic Chinese flavors that suited crab very well, the accompanying Thai squid salad was tasty and crisp, but the crab cake itself was bland. It wasn’t bad; it just didn’t rise to the level of the rest of our meal. At a place called The Lobster, I was determined to eat some, so despite the hefty price I ordered one pan-roasted in a Jim Beam sauce ($48). The presentation was lovely, the firm, sweet meat neatly arranged in the shell atop lobster whipped potatoes. The potatoes had been sauced heavily, the lobster lightly, which made sense – the sweet, lightly smoky sauce would have made cardboard taste good, but I wanted to enjoy some of that lobster meat au naturel. It was perfect, plenty of the texture and seafood flavor that is so often smothered in butter but is seafood nirvana all by itself. My companion decided to try seared day-boat scallops with lobster home fries and a shrimp bisque sauce ($27). The huge scallops were lightly seasoned and cooked to perfection, fine by themselves or with just a hint of the bisque. The home fries – actually a hash with corn, tomato, lobster, spinach, and potato, were so good that I’d have

happily ordered those as a main course. James recommended a glass of Martin Codax Albarino with the first course, a Cotes du Beaune with the second, and both were spot-on. He managed to give personal and well-informed service in a restaurant that was slammin’ busy, which is the pure distilled essence of professionalism. He had the kitchen to back him up – starters and main courses arrived hot and fresh with perfect timing. By the time we moseyed off, the place had cleared out some, and we enjoyed views of the tranquil ocean and the anything but tranquil pier, which was swarming with people like gulls on your picnic. Glow was a victim of its own success – panicky cops shut down the all-night event at 2 a.m. because the crowds, though peaceful, were larger than they expected. If Santa Monica’s finest need a lesson about how to handle unexpectedly large crowds, I know where they can go for one, and they can get a great meal in the process.✶ The Lobster, 1602 Ocean Ave. at the Santa Monica Pier, (310) 458-9294. Open midweek 11 a.m.-11 p.m., weekends 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Valet, parking lot beneath restaurant. Full bar, wheelchair access OK, few vegetarian items.

PHOTO BY ROSHEILA ROBLES

low, Santa Monica: Streets were closed, the neighborhood was elbow to elbow with oddballs, and the carnival had come to town. In the midst of the surging throng of tens of thousands was The Lobster, which is in an incongruous location for a fine dining spot at the best of times and was in a downright surreal situation right then. It was packed, of course, but the person who told us we could have a table with only an hour’s wait, it turned out, was actually able to get us a table with only an hour’s wait! Several laser shows, some weird poetry, a conversation with some outre science fiction fans, and 55 minutes later, we returned and were seated within 10 minutes. They ushered us through a packed bar to a table with a view of the beach, pier, and accompanying chaos, and given a menu by James, our imperturbable server. We decided to start with sea bass ceviche ($8) and the jumbo lump crab cake with ginger-black bean sauce ($15). The Mexican-style ceviche was excellent, the peppers, citrus, and onion in the marinade balanced with fresh chopped tomatoes and cool avocado slices. The portion looked small but was ample for

Hahaha Wipeout … Sam’s by the Beach in Santa Monica is proudly unbeachy – not a surfboard in sight and no tourist kitsch. The upscale atmosphere suits the menu of California-Med cuisine, just as it has for eight years. They’re celebrating that octal anniversary with a wine dinner Thurs., Aug. 21. The buffet will be eclectic, including wild boar baby back ribs, cold Santa Barbara shrimp soup, and asparagus lasagna with fresh mint sauce. Eight Spanish and Californian wines will be poured and wine expert Peer Kerr will provide pairing notes and amusing commentary. Cost is $75 per person – call (310) 230-9100 to reserve …. Meanwhile, in Sherman Oaks … Aug. 21 is again a lively night for lovers of Spanish wine dinners. Il Tiramisu is usually an Italian restaurant, but an adventurous chef knows no boundaries, so that evening they will be serving Spanish delicacies like paella and herbed manchego stuffed mushrooms. Corks will pop on Cava, Albarino, Rioja, and Onix, and a good time will be had by all. Five courses run $70, and you can reserve by calling (818) 986-2640. Santa Monica or Sherman Oaks? It’s a hard decision … . Sating a Craving … The first time I had sea urchin at a sushi bar, I couldn’t imagine why anybody would eat the stuff. It was years before I tried it again, and that time it was wonderful, like eating an ocean breeze. I found that the difference was the freshness; sea urchin goes bad fast, and is horrible when it does. Since then I’ve had delicious pasta with sea urchin and have tried it in other recipes, and I occasionally find myself craving the stuff. I have a new place to try the next time that hits – Chef Metinger has added sea urchin risotto to the menu at La Cachette, and I know it will be fresh because they have a tank of them in the kitchen. There are some other new items on the menu too, like the roasted prawns with lemon caviar butter, but I’m going for the urchin … . Battling the Forces of Evil (OK, the Phone Company) … Some of you read last week’s column about the wine dinner at the Hall at Palihouse and tried to call for reservations, but didn’t get an answer. They’re open for business but are having mysterious phone problems – try them on (323) 850-5558 instead… Summer Wine, and the Livin’ Is Easy … Like to taste the latest arrivals in wine stores while dining on good Italian food? Il Forno and Wine Expo are having another of their New Arrivals dinners – over two dozen fun wines paired with hearty Italian specialties. Given that many offerings, if you don’t find something you like then maybe you should switch to lemonade. It’s Aug. 25, $59, and will surely sell out – call (310) 828-4428 to reserve. –Richard Foss We accept tips: RichardFoss@earthlink.net.

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FORTY BUCKS AND RuPAUL PUMPS BY KIM LACHANCE

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ne of my sons wears high heels. And, so whip me, Dr. Laura, I let him. A lot. At least my boy’s lust for pumps (and emo eyeliner) comes in handy when, say, a herd of Jehovah’s Witnesses feel the urge to pinch a loaf of sanctimoniousness on my doorstep. Trust me: Nothing, maybe not even a flaming birthday cake with their names and ages frosted on it, repels Watchtower-waggers quite as effectively as dispatching an adorable, three-foot-tall white RuPaul to answer the door in his mama’s Frederick’s of Hollywood hooker heels. In fact, my little Louboutin did me the favor just last month. Which brings me to a similar tran-tastic “experience” yesterday at Henry’s Shoe Experience in Downey, when what looked like a pair of white nursing shoes perched on five fugly inches of wicker stool inspired my pre-k crossdresser to go public with his Alexis Arquette act. The worst part? The bastardized-for-Glow’s-sake Nurse Mates were designed by Jennifer Lopez. And I had such high hopes that the boy wouldn’t inherit my hobunky taste. Perhaps J. Lo fake-synth-sang it best in a pop flop you never heard: “Ten million men couldn’t walk a mile in these shoes. Honey, these pumps are too big to fill.” Is that so? At a measly size six, what does Jell-O know about “big” feet? She’s got nothin’ on a sasquatch like me, a galumphing size 10-and-thensome. Those hard-to-cram-a-fit Hammertime feet of mine are the two reasons I braved the gangland barrios of the Downey-Pico Rivera line to check out Henry’s, a humble roadside shoe shop that sells Rodeo Drive caliber kicks for Santee Alley chump change (unfortunately without a trace of the bodega bacon-hugged hot dogs Santee is famous for). But I’m not the only one willing to make the trek: I pulled into the littered strip mall parking lot and was surprised to see a prissy O.C. trophy wife-type lumber out of Henry’s graffitied storefront with an unmarked grocery bag swollen with stiletto spikes in her French-manicured grip. She cracked a shit-eating grin in my direction (pop goes the BOTOX®, and the BOTOX® goes pop!) and tore off in her Mercedes, presumably back to the clueless White Flight from whence she came. Greedy shoe vulture! I peeked through Henry’s scissor-gated, black-tinted security windows (ghetto fabulous, mang) and steeled my wallet for lockdown. My nerves were for naught – Henry’s interior is mercifully the opposite of its exterior, clean, organized, easy to navigate (by size, of course) and untouched by taggers. The oaky scent of tanned calfskin (along with sneaker rubber), not the expected reek of Payless pleather, fills the drab bargain basement

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rectangle. Exposed fluorescent ceiling tubes beam brightly on the neatly aligned rows of last season’s Calvin Kleins, Franco Sartos, Kenneth Coles, Mark Fishers, Arturo Chiangs, Katherine Venezianos, Steve Maddens, and Jessica Simpsons (which one of these bimbettes is not like the others?). By and large (sizes up to 11) an excellent selection of trendy and, more importantly, not counterfeit, designer labels, including strappy sling backs, skinny and chunky high heels, been-done ballet flats, allthe-rage jeweled flip-flops, every skater sneaker variation imaginable and, yes, unfortunately popular metallic gladiator shoes, possibly the worst summer footwear trend since blister-breeding Dr. Scholl’s wooden clogs. (Aw, fuck it. I bought a pair.) Henry’s cute and conveniently bilingual abuelita helpers (to coldly call such sweet, doting old ladies “staff ” just seems wrong) wouldn’t spill which of their spotless stock are factory rejects and which are department store samples/ surplus. At these prices (diamond, check, I’ll explain in a sec) who cares if they’re from Quetta?! Beatrice the manager does. She gave me the party line: Not a shoe in stock is a knockoff, and no pair is ever priced above $44. Seems too good to be true when everything in-store, including men’s and women’s shoes (but not kids’ because they don’t sell them), as well as a wall of name-brand purses, is an additional 20 percent off through the end of August. That’s about as Crazy Gideon as Henry’s gets, except for their peculiar take on the price tag. Don’t waste your time hunting for one. Just flip a shoe over and look in the grooves of her sole, where owner Henry Gandara’s odd duck pricing scheme is chicken scratched in gold permanent marker. Is this algebra, economics or L. Ron Hubbard’s Dianetics? See what I mean: √=$19.99; √√=$24; √√√=$28; *=$32;**=36; one diamond=$40; two diamonds=$44. (I’m a writer, gimme a break. I couldn’t find the symbol for a diamond.) Back to those J. Lo fuck-me pumps I meanly refused to buy my son. They fetch $124 on amazon.com. At Henry’s, the same pair costs not one but two asterisks. That’s 36 bucks, in case you forgot, and I’m still not buying them. Instead, I made off with a pair of J-41 vegan crunchy granola casuals, rhinestone Roxy thongs and vamp heel Nine West T-straps. Not bad for a $40 experience.✶ Henry’s Shoe Experience, 9462 Telegraph Road, Downey, (562) 904-8134. (Sorry, no www dot. They don’t have one yet.)

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NICKEL & DIME

LIL BLACKY “COME AND GET IT” Lil Blacky has compiled Come and Get It, featuring exclusive tracks by some of Latin Rap's hottest artist including Lil Sicko, Brown Boy and Mr. Criminal along with all new tracks by Lil Blacky.

BLACK HEART RECORDS

GIRL IN A COMA “BOTH BEFORE I’M GONE” Girl In A Coma is from San Antonio, Texas. Nina Diaz, who was 12 when the band formed, is often referred to as ''the female version of Morrissey'' and has been compared artists as diverse as Bjork, Patsy Cline and Morrissey himself. Her powerful, expressive voice - mature beyond its years - is unforgettable to anyone who hears her sing. Girl In A Coma have opened for the Pogues, the Smoking Popes, Frank Black and the Catholics, the Epoxies, and will be setting out on a headline tour to support this their debut album.

Aerialists, clowns, live music, and fire amused children of every age at the FocusFish Flying Circus presentation of Gush-E.D. at the Ford Amphitheatre. www.focusfish.com

BLACK HEART RECORDS

CUTE LEPERS “CAN’T STAND MODERN MUSIC”

IBIZA

Originally the idea for the Cute Lepers was that it was to be something equally influenced by first wave punk, mod-revival, power pop and a retarded reverence for Johnny Thunders.....oh yeah, with occasional hints of doo-wop, oldie Rock 'N' Roll and a load of female back-up vocals. The Cute Lepers are releasing Can't Stand Modern Music, their first full length album which combines the attitude of Punk Rock, the style of Mod and the polished sound of Pop.

VARIOUS ARTISTS “CAFÉ DEL MAR - VOL. 15” Café Del Mar celebrates 15 years of music, and for this occasion, this triple CD has been compiled (each CD encapsulates a five year period) containing a total of 42 songs. All the tracks are original and exclusive for this compilation, and you can find artists like Ludvig & Stelar, Dab, Rue Du Soleil, La Caina and many others. Mixed by Jose Padilla. Ibiza Music.

Store Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10am-9pm Fri. & Sat. 10am-10pm Sun. 11am-7pm

Massive crowds gathered at the La Brea Tar Pits to enjoy the deafening cacophony of 88 full drum kits for 88 minutes at Saturday’s 88 BoaDrum. You can see more photos from these events at www.curiousjosh.com Tell Josh Reiss about your upcoming event at events@curiousjosh.com

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J@K PFLI 8JJ ;FNE Kakuro Fill in each square in this grid with a digit from 1 to 9. The sum of the digits in each row or column will be the little number given just to the left of or just above that row or column. As with a Sudoku, you canít repeat any digits in a row or column. See the row of three squares in the upper-left of the grid with 14 to the left of it? That means the sum of the digits in those three squares will be 14, and they won’t repeat any digits. A row or column ends at a black square, so the three-square row in the upper-center with a 22 to the left of it may or may not have digits in common with the 14-row to its left; theyíre considered different rows because thereís a black square between them. Down columns work the same way. Now solve!!

SHOT PUTS AND HANDJOBS: IT’S THE OLYMPICS! BY JIM WASHBURN

psychosudoku@hotmail.com

Find last week’s Psycho Sudoku answers on page 49

AFE<J@EË :IFJJNFI; “Report Card” --how did we do? by Matt Jones

Across 1 It may be fatal 5 Disease contracted by Seal at an early age 10 Brand that pops up frequently in crosswords? 14 Sitar master Shankar 15 ___ ear and out the other 16 Get ready for surgery 17 Couturier Cassini 18 British pottery manufacturer known for bone china 19 City that represents a county 20 Helgenberger of “China Beach” 21 Less polluted 22 Rowboat need 23 ___-country (Drive-By Truckers’ genre) 25 “Damn, it’s cold out!” 26 “Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge” network 27 The Hulk’s catalyst 29 Food vendor’s requirement (abbr.) 30 Resource 33 Last name in riding lawnmowers 34 “___ bin ein Berliner” (famous JFK quote) 35 Desert landscape features 36 Spicy spread 37 ___ Na Na (group that preceded Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock) 38 It’s said coming and going 39 Kiddie lit web spinner who gets

a B?* 42 Fashion line? 43 Cartoonist who created Tintin 44 Insignia on Cardinals caps 45 Hathor or Hera, e.g. 47 Got some better pictures 51 John’s 2008 adversary 56 Gave high honors 58 “Out of Africa” author Isak 59 Element taken in supplements 60 Flea market event 61 Sets up tents 62 Brand with the discontinued flavor Grape Watermelon Down 1 “You’ll hear ___ my lawyer!” 2 “Ooh ___!” 3 Singer Cocker who gets a C?* 4 Leeway 5 Cindy Brady’s impediment 6 Like private phone numbers 7 Billionaire Branson who gets an F?* 8 Price at a dime a dozen, perhaps? 9 Fortune teller 10 They’re added to foot baths 11 “Dilbert” cartoonist Adams who gets an A?* 12 Equipment 13 Makes a decision 24 Hot concept 26 Chocolate necessity 27 Sum up 28 It comes straight from the horse’s mouth 31 Fred’s wife, on “I Love Lucy” 32 ___ Maria (coffee liqueur) 40 Get all emotional and teary-eyed

41 Part of GLAAD 45 Fade out, like a light 46 “We ___ song of sorrow...” (lyric from Saves the Day’s “What Went Wrong”) 47 Beat too fast, like a heart 48 McGregor who will appear in “Angels & Demons” in 2009 49 Mineral that’s the softest on the Mohs scale 50 Killer whale 52 Bodily system that includes the lungs: abbr. 53 Acronym that sometimes means “right now” 54 Word after blood or fuel 55 Place to play horsey 57 Dungeons & Dragons game runners, for short 58 Visions that may require rehab ©2008 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle #0375. 655-6548. Reference puzzle #0372. ©2008 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle #0371.

sn’t it long past due that the Olympics included a Shark Jumping event? The whole sweaty spectacle vaulted into inconsequence years ago. Maybe the flip came in a moment in 1992, when the Olympics jettisoned its insistence on athletes’ amateur status to allow a Dream Team of America’s best, highest-paid pro basketball players, who proceeded to shove, bully, and foul poor Angola’s underfed team in their first game. The Olympics previously had stripped multievent champ Jim Thorpe – one of the greatest athletes of all time and a great soul – of his 1912 Olympic medals merely for having played minor league summer baseball for $2 a game. Or maybe it was the slow bloating of the Olympics, the ways it’s larded on new award categories more shamelessly than the Grammys. Twenty years ago, they somehow got by with 283 events in the combined Summer and Winter Olympics. Today there are 386, some added at the behest of NBC to attract a younger audience. You can expect to see Bungee Crunking any time now. Let’s add a Bribe Handoff Relay too, for corrupt IOC officials, such as the ones who took bribes to steer the Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City in 2002, and perhaps a Bullion Toss to reflect the massive amounts of money the Olympic organization soaks up and never quite accounts for. To honor this year’s host nation, add Smog Huff and Dissident Snuff events. Should China have been allowed to host the Olympics? Since I’m writing this on a computer made in China, on a table made in China, having just brushed with lead toothpaste from China, maybe I lack the moral standing to preach to China, though I do most certainly wish they were nicer to their own people, the Tibetans, the folks in Darfur, and the planet in general. One argument is that hosting the Olympics gives China’s autocratic government publicity and credibility, and an excuse to pile even more repressive security atop their people. On the other side, the Olympics shines a light on the place, and perhaps brings more of the outside world and its ideas to people there. Granted, some made that argument about the 1936 Berlin Olympics. (That

Find last week’s Jonesin’ Crossword answers on page 49

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year’s boycott calls, claimed U.S. Olympic Committee head Avery Brundage, came from a “Jewish-Communist conspiracy.”) Yet Jesse Owens’s four gold medals didn’t exactly spur Hitler into an interracial lovefest. I have a friend in Beijing working the Olympics and he says, yes, it’s smoggy, but we should cut the Chinese some slack, since they’re only some 15 years into their industrial revolution, and the U.S. pollutes more per capita. He finds the security atmosphere not much more oppressive than London’s closed circuit TVs on every block. The beer is cheap – 25 cents – and their lousy government aside, “the local population seems genuinely proud of the fact that their country is hosting the rest of the world. The average person seems to be stepping over themselves to try and give you a good impression of their city.” To me, the biggest buzzkill comes from our friends at NBC, who pay in excess of $600 million to present the Olympics, and seem intent on turning every last dollar into shit. For one thing, you’re not oohing and aahing along with the rest of the world: You’re getting the Olympics on time-delay, chopped and shown to you at NBC’s convenience. Despite NBC’s ads touting the opening ceremony as “the greatest spectacle ever!” it wasn’t spectacular enough to preempt Merv Griffin’s Crosswords or Access Hollywood and was delayed some 11 hours. Despite time zone and prime time concerns, if something of global significance is happening live, we deserve to share it live with the rest of the world. That sense of connection in the moment is worth the inconvenience. It’s why they don’t delay sunrise until a better timeslot. Far worse is NBC’s practice of skipping event coverage – generally of competitors from other nations – to air gauzy backstory documentaries on athletes – generally American – designed to MAKE YOU CARE. It’s like all the shit at ballgames now – volcanoes in the outfield, rah-rah movie scenes on the Jumbotrons, etc. – to MAKE YOU CARE when there’s a home run, because, Christ knows, you couldn’t find your own way to that. So they help you along, sort of like a priest giving you a handjob.✶

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CHOP CHOP BY REBECCA SCHOENKOPF

here were girls in pearls, wearing hose and close-toed shoes, in August in L.A. Waiting for the film, milling about the small Beverly Hills room of puff pastries and cheese, the crowd was ... staid, to be as understated about it as they were (but with a bit less of their elegance), and maybe if I’d brought a friend I wouldn’t have been so crabby about the film that followed. There’s really no such thing as an unbiased review. It was a Playboy Foundation gathering, and when Playboy’s flack had called me with an invite to a screening about breast cancer, I jumped. (How high!) Playboy is objectively pro-bosom, after all, and it was a rare and special synergy between sponsor and sponsee. But the Playboy Foundation is all old people, and not a tacky, easily denuded lass was in sight. For all the lack of fun and ridiculousness in the small crowd, though, I did get to hold a glass of red wine high over what I’m going to guess was a white silk charmeuse suit as I passed its wearer by, and I swear her forehead even moved in her terror. I enjoyed that very much. We moved into the Clarity Theater as the charmeused (maybe) woman took the podium. And she spoke elegantly, and well! She said that past Playboysponsored films have included The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, about the assassinated gay city supervisor of San Francisco (really?!?), and talked about civil liberties, including the phrase “civil liberties,” and about how the doc we were about to see touched on important issues of medical privacy amid technological advances, and oh my god, is this Christie Hefner? It is Christie Hefner! And she is my new hero! And I am going to buy a goddamn silk charmeuse (maybe) suit! She introduced the gorgeous young filmmaker, Joanna Rudnick, a winsome Chicago brunette, who spoke well if nervously about her very personal documentary, In the Family. It was difficult to bring herself into the film, she said, and I imagine it was, and sometimes we need to listen to the little voice saying no, because I hated every minute of the near two hours that followed. I hated her. OK, I didn’t hate her. I just didn’t want to see her in her documentary about herself. From the moment of her coy introductory voiceover until the scene when she tells her boyfriend he can wait outside the examination office for her, but if he wants, there’s a chair right there next to the ultrasound tech wielding the wand that will probe the inside of her vagina, I cringed, and ascribed bad motives to her, and screamed on the inside, “OH MY GOD, LADY, KEEP THE MYSTERY ALIVE!” Nearly the next scene (after the scene of him looking very uncomfortable next to

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her while she’s got her feet in the stirrups) announced their breakup.

ut I get ahead of myself. The gene mutation that causes a load of breast and ovarian cancer now can be tested for, and if there’s a bad history of lady cancers in your family, would you want to know if you too have an up to 90 percent chance of catching them? And if you are positive for this gene mutation, and so have an up to 90 percent chance of a very bad cancer, would you proactively scoop out your ov’s and your breasts? I’m going to go with yes. There were extraordinarily poignant moments in the doc, some focused on three young and bright and witty sisters whose mother had the C; two of them tested positive, which they handled stoically, while the sister who did not could not stop crying in guilt and (unspoken) relief. A cancer support group yielded some subjects that Rudnick then followed whose stories were heartrending and sobby, and I didn’t have anything in my purse that could even begin to pass for a Kleenex; one black woman, who died, had a daughter who wouldn’t get tested because why bring trouble and ignorance is bliss. The families, for the most part, are sad, and strong, and lovely. Important points followed: Black women are five times less likely to get referred for genetic testing, for one. And topless women defiantly showing the gouges where their breasts used to be can look beatific and beautiful when they’re smiling because they’re alive. And here is what was so fucking annoying: To make it “personal,” Rudnick focuses mostly on her own Hamlet’s soliloquy – should I or shouldn’t I get my breasts chopped off because if I don’t there is an up to 90 percent chance I will die young of cancer. I am positive for this genetic mutation. I will probably get cancer. If I get the surgeries removing my ovaries and breasts before I get any cancer, the rates will fall near zero. Ooooh, what should I dooooo? While she is talking in cancer support groups to women whose bald heads are covered in groovy scarves, while she is talking to loving bereaved husbands wondering how they will care for special needs children on their own, she talks about herself, and whether or not to get the surgery, and she will, someday, but just maybe not yet. It is maddening. You might take a page from the ladies you followed: Unable to work, they spent their time volunteering at clinics, fitting other women for their new prostheses. Step outside yourself. Focus outward. And make your fucking appointment today.✶

C@M@E> Week of August 14

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ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Golden Globe-winning actress Edith Evans had some advice for actors who were just coming into their full power: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t indulge yourself by showing off; the moment that you begin to find that you can do something well, you must control it and do it more selectively.â&#x20AC;? This recommendation would serve you well in the coming weeks, Aries, no matter what your work is. You have reached a higher level of self-expression; you have achieved a degree of mastery in a skill youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been struggling to learn. Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to practice wielding your new command with enhanced discernment and discipline. (Evansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; quote comes from John Gielgudâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book An Actor and His Time.)

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) By the time Cal was seven years old, he was lit up with a desire to know how things work. Sometimes that caused problems. When he dismantled the toaster to examine its innards, for instance, his parents reprimanded him. In a working-class family of 12 kids, losing a valued appliance caused a financial crunch. But Cal kept taking things apart to understand them better. In time his research led him to develop a skill for putting things back together again, often in better shape than they were before he got a hold of them. As an adult, Cal creates interactive robots that perform in shows all over the world; heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a master builder. I hope youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll try a telescoped version of his story in the coming week, Taurus: disassembling stuff in order to ultimately make it work even better.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus advises his disciples to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as dovesâ&#x20AC;? as they do their work in the world. (A different translation says â&#x20AC;&#x153;as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.â&#x20AC;?) Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the two-toned attitude I suggest you embody in the coming week, Gemini. Evaluate every situation with all the cunning at your disposal, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t act like a scheming strategist. Rather, be open-hearted and humble, almost child-like in your willingness to see with fresh eyes. Mastering this combination will allow you to avoid the pitfalls and reap the blessings of the paradoxes you encounter.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

A teacher at an all-girl Japanese elementary school decided her class would put on a performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. But when she selected a certain student to play Snow White, the parents of the other 24 kids went ballistic. Through a campaign of harassment, they bullied the teacher into changing the script so that there would be 25 Snow Whites, no dwarfs, and no wicked witch. In my opinion, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the wrong way to apply democratic principles. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m more anti-hierarchical than anyone I know, and yet even I would draw the line at, say, no more than five Snow Whites. Please be vigilant for the possibility that a similar misapplication of egalitarianism will take place in your personal sphere. Make sure thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at least one dwarf.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Douglas Engelbart got the idea for the computer mouse in 1950 and actually invented it in 1964. But it was slow to be recognized for the brilliant technology it was, and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t begin to reach a mass audience for another 20 years. Luckily, he was persistent, never losing faith in his vision. I suspect youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the cusp of a comparable experience, Leo. One of your good ideas is either ahead of its time, or beyond the capacity of your cohorts to imagine. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to wait as long as Engelbart did, but the fruition of your brainchild may take more time than youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see how dogged and determined you can be.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Do you believe in invisible things? No? You say you only trust information that comes to you through your five senses? Then whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your position on radio waves, infrared light, electricity, and X-rays? Do you believe in them, even though your senses have no contact with them whatsoever? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true that scientists have developed instruments that detect those invisible things. But what if there are other hidden forces and secret energies the scientists have yet to develop instruments to find? Let these thoughts be the starting point for your meditations in the coming week, Virgo. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prime time for you to recognize, engage with, and benefit from what has been concealed from you up until now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Twenty years ago, I ran for city council in Santa Cruz, California. As one of my campaign promises, I told voters I would regularly consult with the spirit of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third president, Thomas Jefferson, with whom Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d established a telepathic rapport. I fell a few hundred votes short of winning a council seat, but I kept my pledge anyway: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been communing with Jefferson ever since. Last night I met with him in my dreams. I told him youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in an astrological phase thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorable for seeking out new teachers and teachings, and I asked if he had any advice. He suggested that you do what I do: Have conversations, either in dreams or fantasies, with an historical figure you deeply respect.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

The most striking feature on the planet Jupiter is the Great Red Spot, a storm that resembles a giant unblinking eye. It has lasted over 300 years and is wider than the planet Earth. I invite you to regard it as your symbol of power in the coming weeks. Think of it whenever youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to use your eyes to see in bigger and better ways, or whenever you want to draw on the inspirational power of a beautiful storm, or whenever youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to transform some disturbance in your life into a long-lived source of dazzling energy.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

For over a decade, members of the worldwide Garden Gnome Liberation Front have been stealing garden gnomes from the yards of peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homes and relocating them into their natural home in the forests. While I admire their pranks, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t in good conscience advise you to join their ranks. Your instinct for freedom is exceptionally high these days, true, but it would be a shame to waste it on helping inanimate objects. Instead, please devote your tremendous emancipatory energies to practical causes and living beings. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear to me that a part of you needs to come out of hiding. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not exactly sure what that means, though. Maybe thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a talent youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve buried thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready to emerge into the light. It could be that a question youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been trying to ignore

Ask About our

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By Rob Brezsny is finally ripe to be asked. Perhaps youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been stoically putting up with a tweaked situation that you really should rise up and transform. What do you think it is, Capricorn?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

My favorite places on the Moon are the Sea of Clouds, Sea of Fertility, Sea of Ingenuity, and Sea of Nectar. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not actual bodies of water. The old astronomers who named them didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know they were actually dark plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. But the great thing about the moon is that it piques our imaginations and massages our dreams as much as it speaks to our rational minds. And I encourage you to take advantage of that power now. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one possible way: Daydream a story about a heroic quest in which you acquire four magical boons, one each at the Sea of Clouds, Sea of Fertility, Sea of Ingenuity, and Sea of Nectar

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the UK, chose an unlikely context to propose marriage to his future wife: She was kneeling in front of the toilet wielding a scrub brush. I expect a comparable event in your near future, Pisces: An appealing invitation or big opening will come your way while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a humble position. The only advice I have is to put down your scrub brush before responding. In addition to the horoscopes youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re reading here, Rob Brezsny offers EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES and Daily Text Message Horoscopes. To access them online, go to RealAstrology.com. The Expanded Audio Horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700. Robâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main website is at FreeWillAstrology.com. Check out his book, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessingsâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen the future of American literature, and its name is Rob Brezsny.â&#x20AC;? - Tom Robbins, author of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jitterbug Perfumeâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climatesâ&#x20AC;?

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THE KNIVES COME OUT AT NIGHT (SEE THURSDAY)

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Edited by Ron Garmon

A Night in Old Havana

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" (2+ & ( %% , *+ special guests )-#,( 2 #. * special guest Promotion partner: Starbucks Coffee Company Media sponsors: Hollywood & Highland Center, Univision 34/TeleFutura 46 Artists and dates subject to change.

HOLLYWOOD BOWL

THURSDAY (+ FILTHY ANGELS Lock up your earhole for local heroes The Knives are playing the Viper Room tonight. They’ve toured with the rawkus likes of Fireball Ministry and Lacuna Coil, but the noise they make is closer to such thunder-lizards of yore as Black Sabbath. The undercard includes Sex & Violence, It’s Casual, Chingalera, and House of Broken Promises. It’s Thursday, after all, and you need to get your riot on for the long weekend ahead. $10. Doors 8:30 p.m. Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., WeHo. viperroom.com. (Ron Garmon)

FRIDAY (,

FROM THE LABORATORY IN THE CASTLE EAST … Those irrepressible brains-in-a-jar over at California Institute for the Abnormalarts are staging an oldfashioned spook show tonight, complete with music, vaudeville, puppetry, exorcisms, and sundry frightfulness. Yes, it seems like only yesteryear when such freerange monster rallies roamed the length of this ghoulish republic, scaring and titillating the yokels with a taste for utter ghastliness as yet uncorrupted by American Idol. This event will repeat next Friday, Aug. 22. $10. 9 p.m. C.I.A. 11334 Burbank Blvd., NoHo. ciabormalarts.com. (RG)

SATURDAY (-

LE ROI EST ENCORE MORT Yes, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll is still dead and taking cognizance is the Grand Old Man of Hollywood Clubland Kim Fowley. The Redwood Bar & Grill will be the scene for belated funeral obsequies and much lascivious more tonight, as Mr. Tall, Dark & Gruesome stages a gala Hollywood Sexual Underground show. Groove to such screwhead attractions as The Fabulous Miss Wendy, the shockabilly stylings of Los Duggans, and Elvis impersonator/illusionist Rev. Lu$t Vegas, who will appear as both the living and the risen Big E. 9 p.m. $5. The Redwood Bar & Grill, 316 W. 2nd St., downtown L.A. redwoodbar.com. (RG)

SUNDAY (.

THEIR WORDS JUST A WHISPER/ YOUR DEAFNESS A SHOUT Expect the geezer-stoner-proggy set to roll out to the last bong-huffer for the Jethro Tull show tonight at the fabulous Greek Theatre. The mighty Tull packs a still-formidable rep among the rock fancy

for lithe and literary lyrics, as well as the walleyed Dada of their live show, so expect an old-skool rock experience. The venue’s toker-unfriendliness should get quite a workout as well, with wet-behind-the-ears event staff running hither-and-thither demanding their elders extinguish all smoking materials. 8 p.m. $85+. Greek Theatre, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. greektheatrela.com. (RG)

MONDAY (/

WHEN IT’S TIME TO PARTY WE WILL PARTY HARD Everyone loves a little kitsch to take that load off of Monday, right? Be sure to head down to the Echo to see what antics Youngstown, Ohio’s Gil Mantera’s Party Dream are soundtracking with their Casioflavored discopunk. Feel free to drop by in your pleather pants and cut-off tees, you’ll fit right into the atmosphere as Ultimate Donny (how can you not love that name!) channels his inner Devo as Mantera himself mans the keyboard. $10. The Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park. attheecho.com. (Carman Tse)

TUESDAY (0

BABY TO YOU, ALL I AM IS THE INVISIBLE BOY Who needs Batman when you have the Tuesday matinee screening of The Invisible Boy at LACMA? After being conceived for the classic Forbidden Planet, MGM felt obligated to use the expensive Robby the Robot for more projects, and thus came along The Invisible Boy with its silly plot involving a kid who just wanted to befriend an evil supercomputer, and parents who somehow don’t seem to mind that Timmie can go transparent. And somehow this is a “sequel” to Forbidden Planet! 1 p.m. $2. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. lacma.org. (CT)

1000 Universal Center Dr. Universal City (818) 755-9970 www.howlatthemoon.com/hollywood_tonight.html

WEDNESDAY )' SCARED STIFF

Remember all those horrible, embarrassing things your wrote in your journal in high school when you were that awkward and insecure teenager? At King King, tonight, they all come to life as real people take the stage in “Mortified” and share their authentic angsty scribblings straight from the pages of their wirebound notebook. Featuring music by The Mortified After School Orchestra, because we all know you wanted to hear “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” just one more time. 8 p.m. $15 at the door, King King, 6555 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. getmortified.com. (CT)

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SEE THAT GIRL, WATCH THAT SCENE, DIG IT… Be a Ballerina The Katnap Dance Center will be more than happy to help you accomplish your childhood dream of plie-ing for pleasure. Classes are held every Wednesday for adults and teens. Show your five-year-old that she’s not the only one who can arabesque and entendu. She was kinda getting a big head anyway. 6:15 p.m., Wednesdays. 12932 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 306-7069, katnapdance.com. Forever Is a Long Time, but … It’s not too long if you’re watching flamenco dancing. No, really. The Fountain Theater’s production of “Forever Flamenco” will get you grabbing your mariachis for sure. Just see if you can restrain yourself. 8 p.m., Sun., Aug. 17. 5060 Fountain Ave., Hollywood. (323) 6631525, fountaintheater.com. So You Think You Can (Contemporary) Dance? If you can, artistic director Kate Hutter of the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company would like to know. You can show off (and maybe learn a thing or two) at Diavolo Lab, where Hutter leads classes for dancers of all skill levels and genres. The rest of the LACDC will be there too, so bring your A-Game. 4 p.m. every Monday. 618B Moulton, Los Angeles. lacontemporarydance.org. Glass Slippers Optional 3rd Street Dance studio is signing up couples for its eight-week beginning ballroom dance session. Foxtrot, tango and waltz your way to a more nostalgic time when girls didn’t make their booties clap. Session starts 8 p.m., Tues., Sept. 9. 8558 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (310) 275-4683 3rdstreetdance.com. Hip-Hop Hooray Make the go-go girls dancing at the nightclubs jealous of your wicked moves. Hip-hop dance

classes for schlubs who are still trying to moonwalk are available at 6:30 p.m. every Monday. Dance Arts Academy, 731 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 932-6230, danceartsacademy.com.

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Let’s Make Shauna Sands Proud If you still haven’t tried pole dancing, ladies, it’s time to slip on your exquisite Lucite heels and get to work. The ubiquitous Sheila Kelly’s S-Factor will be happy to release your inner stripper. Introductory classes are ongoing. 5225 Wilshire Blvd. #B, Miracle Mile, (323) 965-9685. sfactor.com. Beach Dancers Do It Better The Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier is just hitting its stride, so you might want to grab your flip flops for a night of moshing in the sand. Indie-rock singers Carmen Consoli and Samantha Crain will be providing the goods on the 14th; Peter & Gordon and Gerry and the Pacemakers will be belting it out on the 21st. 7 p.m., Thursdays. Santa Monica Pier. (310) 4588901, twilightdance.org.

COURTESY OF USC THORNTON SCHOOL OF MUSIC

STEPS

The Funky Chicken It Ain’t VaBang! Dance Company, the bi-coastal dance troupe, promises to push the limits of what you thought dance is, was, or should be. Prepare to experience befuddlement. 8 p.m., Aug. 30-31. Diavolo at the Brewery. 616 Moulton Ave., Los Angeles. vabang.org. She Can Sing, She Can Dance, She Dated Steve Martin Bernadette Peters, the Tony Award-winning sweetheart of the stage, will be gracing the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts with her presence. If you haven’t seen her since Gypsy, maybe it’s time to pay her a visit. 8 p.m., Sat., Aug. 16. 12700 Center Court Dr. S., Cerritos. (800) 300-4345. cerritoscenter.com. … And for All You Swingers… The Derby hosts Sunday-night swing sessions, and has been doing it for 15 years. Complete with a live swing band. Just keep your hands on your own date. 4500 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz, (323) 663-8979. clubderby.com. --Sarah Tressler

INTOXICATING

Eleonore Schoenfeld was ‘Born to Teach’ BY DONNA PERLMUTTER

h, Hollywood Bowl. An oasis of carefree summer evenings, tinkling glasses, flags flying unfurled, neighborly food tastings. And yes, as the night darkens, and after much wining and dining, strains of music waft in the open air as you sit back, close your eyes, and absorb the ambient pleasures – never mind those occasional planes buzzing by. Oh, but it can be much more than that. The Los Angeles Philharmonic brings us soloists, glorious soloists – those seated within its ranks and available for big screen close-ups (hoo-ha, do they shine, most of all oboist Ariana Ghez) – along with featured guest artists at center stage. In fact, their single voices happily emerge in sharper focus than does the aggregrate ensemble, which has to contend with amplification clunk and imbalances, not to mention the dreaded mechanical sound. But don’t let that stop you. Lately we had two concerts with notable cellists: Daniel Muller-Schott and the orchestra’s own Peter Stumpf. (Remember him? He’s the one who, several years ago, left his million-dollarplus Stradivarius on a porch and, in the brief instant before returning to it, saw the instrument swiped by someone looking for a guitar case! Luckily, he’s back in possession of it.) Well, they were both winners – each in a different way. Under Miguel Harth-Bedoya, a former Philharmonic associate conductor, Muller-Schott took on the A-minor SaintSaens Concerto, its sweeping Romanticism just the ticket for his deeply burnished tone, its fast, agitated passages met with supreme agility. And under Christian Zacharias, Stumpf outlined the classical poise of Boccherini’s Concerto in D, mastering its density of notes with his fleet fingers. In both cases the Philharmonic responded sensitively. Floating around in my head, though, was a question: What would the Germanbred Eleonore Schoenfeld have wanted to tell these virtuoso cellists? No moment of this celebrated teacher’s career ever seemed to pass without her eliciting another transfigured hemidemisemiquaver from her

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eager coachees, no matter their degree of artistry. And now that question gets a partial answer in “Born to Teach” (airing Aug. 24 on KCET), Mari Edelman’s engaging, insightful portrait of the dauntless Schoenfeld who reigned at University of Southern California’s music department for 28 years until her death in 2007. She drew top-line cello students from around the world and accolades from noted musicians. San Francisco Symphony director Michael Tilson Thomas, who grew up in Los Angeles and breathed in the same atmosphere as emigres Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg, says, “If you were a lucky musician you’d have a chance to meet an extraordinary artist, an extraordinary teacher, an extraordinary human being, who really changes your thoughts on music and on life. “In my life, Eleonore Schoenfeld was such a person.” Former L.A. Philharmonic director Zubin Mehta points out Schoenfeld’s “old school enthusiasm” and how, in auditions, he could always hear the special musicality of those she had coached. Perhaps he was aware that the cellist would sometimes jump out of bed at 3 a.m. and drive to a student’s house to help refine a passage for an upcoming performance. She was that kind of teacher. Documentarian (and psychologist) Edelman, also a cellist who had studied with her subject, says that Schoenfeld’s high accomplishment – she was a solo artist who toured Europe as a prodigy duo with an even more gifted violinist sister Alice – was born of her insecurities. “Perfectionism was her life-long defense. But as a teacher, she had a caring side and a critical side. To win her approval was intoxicating.” Scenes of Schoenfeld teaching, by way of archival videos, give some idea of what she imparted. Her authority and her humanity seem contained in those clips, especially those where we see her get up and dance the music’s gestures, to demonstrate its shape, or where she shows how to bend a note to give it a properly thewy character. It’s quite a show. One to record if, by chance, you’re at the Bowl. ✶

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NOT VICKY, NOT CRISTINA, BUT DEFINITELY BARCELONA: PENELOPE CRUZ, SULTRY WITHOUT EVEN TRYING

VICKY AND JIM AND CRISTINA AND JULES AND TED AND ALICE Woody Allen’s latest is a gently amusing romance/comedy BY ANDY KLEIN

nly seven months after the dead serious Cassandra’s Dream, Woody Allen is back with film number 38, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which is nearly the opposite in tone. A gentle romance/ comedy more than a “romantic comedy” in the usual sense, it traces the adventures of two young women (Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall, who also worked together in The Prestige) on vacation in Spain. Allen lets us know very early on that Vicky (Hall) is the more “grown up,” with all the attendant plusses and minuses: She’s engaged to a successful young business type (Chris Messina) and is working on her Master’s thesis on Catalan identity. (I’ll confess that, after the first mention, I struggled to imagine what “cattle and identity” could mean.) She’s on track toward a perfect upper-middle-class (or higher) life, but the tracks are too rigid for surprise or adventure. Cristina, on the other hand, is impetuous, maybe even flighty, driven by romance more than responsibility. Unlike Vicky, who goes to Barcelona to do some research, Cristina (typically) is looking for a new scene after her latest relationship’s breakup. While staying with Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and Mark (Kevin Dunn), an older couple related to Vicky, they are approached by artist Juan Antonio ( Javier Bardem), who introduces himself and then suggests all three of them have a romantic adventure, capped by a menage a trois. True to form, Vicky is quite understandably dismissive of this comeon; almost as understandably, Cristina is game. Juan Antonio flies them to the village of Oviedo, where beauty and food and wine and music all conspire to create a mood of romantic inevitability. But, after Cristina is sidelined, Vicky – who

has come along essentially as a chaperone – discovers herself to be a little less controlled and certain about things than she realized. Still, it’s Cristina who moves in with Juan Antonio, an arrangement that appears threatened when his crazy ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz), shows up for an indefinite stay. This unpromising arrangement leads to an unexpected, more complicated set of relationships. While I have never – well, had never – indulged in thoughts of being in bed with both Johansson and Cruz specifically, I think we can safely suggest that being in bed with two drop-dead gorgeous women is a common, if not universal, hetero male’s fantasy. (I will assume that there might be a woman or two out there with fantasies about Bardem, as well.) But, oddly, we don’t see things from Juan Antonio’s point of view. Vicky is the closest thing to a protagonist, but Allen’s stylistic choices tend to keep us at a voyeuristic distance from all the characters. There is an opposite male fantasy as well: Some time ago – in reference to the popularity of his second novel among male journalists – Larry McMurtry wrote in New York magazine, “I don’t believe I know a class of people who are as clearly the captives of their own fantasies as the male journalists among my acquaintances, and it slowly became evident to me that Leaving Cheyenne had happened to express ... a primary male-journalist fantasy: that of being able to sleep with one’s best friend’s wife or girlfriend without there being any hard feelings on the part of the best friend.” McMurtry then unfavorably compared his book to Jules and Jim – both Francois

Truffaut’s film and the Henri-Pierre Roche novel on which it was based – which dealt with a similar situation. If Hollywood Ending was slightly influenced by Leo McCarey and Stardust Memories a good deal more than slightly influenced by Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2, then Vicky Cristina Barcelona feels like Allen’s Jules and Jim. A few years ago, Allen said, “The directors that have personal, emotional feelings for me are Ingmar Bergman and Federico Fellini, and I’m sure there has been some influence but never a direct one. I never set out to try and do anything like them.” But, last week in the L.A. Times, he somewhat contradicted that: “I always wanted to make the kinds of films that I saw in the 1950s. The Truffaut films and the Godard films and the Bergmans and Fellinis, and those are the films that always influenced my work. And I’ve always copied them and been influenced by them.” Whatever: It would be ridiculous to expect someone’s remarks to be utterly consistent over the course of a week, let alone a lifetime. Copy ... influence ... direct or indirect – no shame in any of them, as long as the outcome is good, which in this case it is. Allen is smart enough to mention Truffaut first, since the impact of Jules and Jim on Vicky Cristina Barcelona is clear right off the bat. The most obvious similarity is the use of an omniscient narrator telling the story – a technique infinitely more common (for obvious reasons) on the page than on the screen: Books tell us stories, while movies are supposed to be all about showing them. Another reason voiceover narration in film is more often than not obtrusive is because it’s frequently applied after-thefact to films that have clarity problems – or films that are perceived by doltish

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studio execs as having clarity problems, as with Blade Runner – which is clearly not the case here. Still, I have mixed feelings about Allen’s implementation. Allen’s most famous use of a narrative voiceover was his own character Alvy in Annie Hall. So, at first, I kept expecting one of the characters here to eventually be revealed as the narrator. Even after I gave up on that, the technique is problematic: Along with the multiple POVs, it’s the main mechanism keeping us from direct identification with either Vicky or Cristina, let alone Juan Antonio or Maria Elena. There has already been some criticism of the film’s disconnect from the world the rest of us live in; that is, these people never seem to worry about money and rarely seem to work. The same could be said, of course, of all but the most consciously political comedies of the ’30s and ’40s; they’re not supposed to reflect all the dull, quotidian stuff. Allen has never pretended to be reflecting the lives of the “little people,” except, perhaps, in The Purple Rose of Cairo, which made a point of both the wonder and the absurdity of life up on the screen. The voiceover gives Vicky Cristina Barcelona the feeling of a fairy tale; while it might take place in a fairy tale world, the story is driven by sometimes unpleasant complexities. (Not that fairy tales are always pleasant or simple.) Vicky and Cristina are obvious stand-ins for warring impulses within most of us; and Allen genially, gently suggests how close opposites can be. ✶ Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Written and directed by Woody Allen. With Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Penelope Cruz, Patricia Clarkson, and Kevin Dunn. Opens Friday citywide.

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At the Sherman Oaks Galleria (818) 501-0753

ONTARIO Edwards Ontario Palace Stadium 22 & IMAX (800) FANDANGO #153 ORANGE AMC 30 at the Block (714) 769-4AMC ORANGE £ Century Stadium 25 (800) FANDANGO #913 PALM DESERT Cinémas Palme d’Or (760) 779-0730 PASADENA Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 Cinemas (626) 844-6500 PUENTE HILLS AMC Puente Hills 20 (626) 810-5566 RANCHO MIRAGE Regal Rancho 16 (800) FANDANGO #693 RIVERSIDE Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16 (800) FANDANGO #1722 ROLLING HILLS AMC Rolling Hills (310) 289-4262 ROLLING HILLS ESTATES Regal Promenade Stadium 13 (800) FANDANGO #158

SAN LUIS OBISPO The Movie Experience at Downtown Centre Cinema (805) 546-8600 SANTA BARBARA Paseo Nuevo (805) 963-9503 SANTA CLARITA Edwards Canyon Country Stadium 10 (800) FANDANGO #124 SIMI VALLEY Regal Civic Center Stadium 16 (800) FANDANGO #164 SOUTH GATE Edwards South Gate Stadium 20 (800) FANDANGO #166 TORRANCE AMC Del Amo 18 (310) 289-4AMC VENTURA Century 10 Downtown Ventura (805) 641-6500 WEST HILLS Laemmle’s Fallbrook (818) 340-8710 WESTLAKE VILLAGE £ Mann Westlake Village 8 (805) 379-2299 WOODLAND HILLS AMC Promenade 16 (818) 883-2AMC SORRY, NO PASSES ACCEPTED FOR THIS ENGAGEMENT

Yvonne (Yvonne Williams) and Homer (Homer Kish) have a rundown apartment in Bunker Hill’s Native American ghetto, ca. 1960. Homer may otherwise be a nice guy, but he treats Yvonne, who is pregnant with his child, with casual disregard. During the one long night that Kent Mackenzie’s 1961 film shows us, Homer drops Yvonne at a movie theater and frolics till dawn with his buddies: He and Rico (Rico Rodriguez) head for a poker game, while Tommy (Tom Reynolds) and Cliff (Clifford Ray Sam) cruise neighborhood saloons and pick up chicks. After various activities – drunken speeding, bar brawls, dancing – the four all end up atop Hill X, where a bunch of other locals are partying and nostalgically singing their tribal chants. Like Charles Burnett's 1977 Killer of Sheep – released last year to great acclaim after three decades on the shelf – Kent Mackenzie's 1961 The Exiles is a heretofore lost artifact of Los Angeles history, as well as an excellent film. Both received renewed attention after being included in Thom Andersen's 2003 documentary Los Angeles Plays Itself and were subsequently restored by the UCLA Archive and picked up for release by Milestone Films. Basing the characters’ voiceover narration on interviews with the actors, Mackenzie imposes no obvious attitude or mediating outsider's perspective on the material; he just presents it to us, a snapshot of an otherwise unknown culture, with details specific to its time and place. The cinematography is painstakingly worked out; only some bad looping gets in the way of the experience. (Andy Klein) (UCLA’s Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum) See full review online.

When freelance news videographer Eric Boyle (Richard Dutcher) happens upon a gang murder – with camera in hand – he appears to have hit journalistic pay dirt. But the repercussions of that moment, and his decision to capture the killing on tape, plunge both Eric and wife Davey (Virginia Reece) into an inescapable downward spiral that borders on the apocalyptic. The religious inference here is not coincidental – writer/director/star Dutcher is best known for launching the Mormon independent film movement with his breakthrough 2000 movie God’s Army. Since that time, his relationship with both Hollywood and his own religion has been a tempestuous one, suggesting that his painfully Faustian new film may be considerably more autobiographical than it appears at first glance. Those looking for convenient answers and affirmation, artistically or religiously, will not find them here. Falling is a primal scream from an immensely talented artist, a begrudging recognition that the world does not play fair, that human beings are profoundly not in control of their own destinies, that some misdeeds cannot be redeemed. It’s a sobering hour-and-a-half at the movies – a pulverizing and unrelenting polemic that somehow never feels like a polemic, largely because Dutcher has the good sense to leave it open-ended. That’s little solace for the escapist crowd, but good news (not the biblical sort) for cinephiles. (Wade Major) (Laemmle’s Music Hall 3)

FLY ME TO THE MOON The second cartoon this summer to open with ape Ham I strapping into a space suit, Fly Me to the Moon has two advantages over rival Space Chimps: it’s marginally smarter and in 3-freaking-D. These are watery compliments for a pleasant, unassuming film. Aside from a few oh-yeah! dazzlers, dimensionalizing the story of three young houseflies – the hero, the geek, and the fatty – who slip aboard Apollo 11 doesn’t maximize its visual potential. There’s a nice swoosh-glide into their insect habitat past stubborn mushrooms and glass blades that seem to lash your cheeks. Later, chubby Scooter ping-pongs through weightless drops of Tang, and the three enjoy a gravity-free ballet that makes you ask, couldn’t they fly on earth? When Armstrong (one assumes: the humans are as indistinguishable as marshmallows) bounds across the lunar landscape, we’re treated to a fly’s-eye view from his helmet, staring down as the ground recedes under his feet and then pulls him back down with a puff of space dust. The plot – the usual be-a-hero stuff – is unessential; the science stops with “Wow! Look! The moon!” Back in their Houston swamps, we spend a little too much time with their families: three nervous moms nursing round pink maggots, and a daredevil Gramps still reminiscing about his old love Nadja, a Russian insect built like Charo, and his flight across the Atlantic with Amelia Earhart. Forming the killjoy truth committee are biologists in the audience compelled to note that the 41year gap between Earhart and Armstrong would make Gramps as relatively ancient as King Tut, as well as Buzz Aldrin, who interrupts the credits to insist that at no time was the Apollo 11 infected with “contaminants.” (Amy Nicholson) (Selected theaters)

HENRY POOLE IS HERE His life in shambles, despondent Henry (Luke Wilson) buys a house in the same suburban Los Angeles neighborhood where he somewhat unhappily grew up. One of his new neighbors, Esperanza (Babel’s Adriana Barraza), sees a stain on his newly painted, outdoor stucco wall that she believes to be the face of Christ, and imbued with special powers. Henry wants nothing to do with the silliness, but more interactions with those around him – including divorcee Dawn (Radha Mitchell), whose eight-year-old daughter has stopped speaking

LACITYBEAT 30 AUGUST 14-20, 2008

since her parents’ breakup – slowly draw him out of his insular shell. A filmmaker with a deep music video catalogue, director Mark Pellington has always been a master of atmosphere and mood, most notably in The Mothman Prophecies. Here, though, he rolls the dice on a much more personal story and succeeds in crafting an affecting movie about emotional waywardness and quiet reflection. The target is smaller, but Pellington’s extraordinary skill at marrying artful image and emotional content help Henry Poole avoid a lot of treacly downward drag, elevating the emotional punch of debut screenwriter Albert Torres’s script, which is enough of a blank canvas to allow one to project onto it their own feelings of forlornness. The only nagging demerit? There’s a plummy, surface quality to Wilson’s moroseness and sullenness; one thinks about the deeper reservoirs of swallowed sadness that someone like Ryan Gosling could have conveyed with this role. (Brent Simon) (Citywide)

JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER Plumber by day and student by night, Jack Brooks (Trevor Matthews) is an angry, wound-up guy. He has a girlfriend he doesn’t really seem to like, a therapist whose advice he can’t fully embrace, and a scarred past that leaves him prone to irrational outbursts. When his community college professor (Robert Englund) becomes overtaken by an awakened ancient evil and is reanimated in belching, vomiting, meat-craving form, Jack finally realizes he can’t run from his Batman-esque back story (the brutal murder of his parents, via a nasty beast), so he grabs his socket wrench and decides to kick a little monster ass. Lean, thinly sketched, and, as the title aptly indicates, unapologetically populist in tone, Jack Brooks channels Slither and early Sam Raimi, all by way of Tales From the Crypt. There isn’t much in the way of frills or production design, but director Jon Knautz makes up for it by keeping things moving fairly briskly. If there’s a problem, it’s that the script withholds its protagonist’s transformation for too long and could use a bit of an upgrade in swaggering archness. Otherwise, though, grading on a curve, it’s easy to glimpse the potential franchise cult appeal here; all that awaits is the hearty blurb of endorsement from Bruce Campbell. (Brent Simon) (Laemmle Sunset 5)

RE-CYCLE After a trilogy of successful romances, novelist Tingyin (Angelica Lee Sin-je) decides to write a supernatural thriller called Re-Cycle. But her concentration is disturbed by the return of her ex-love and a series of strange occurrences. One day, she walks out of her nice apartment building into a burned-out, crumbling street that she’s never seen before. She discovers that she’s fallen into the world where all her discarded pages, ideas, and characters end up – essentially the contents of her computer’s Recycle Bin. Soon she’s racing through one bizarre, threatening environment after another, helped only by an old man (Lau SiuMing) and a little girl (Zeng Qi Qi). Right ahead of the release of their own Hollywood remake of their 2000 Thai hit Bangkok Dangerous comes this 2006 import from the Pang Brothers, Oxide and Danny. Lee was terrific in her breakthrough role in the Pangs’ The Eye (later badly remade with Jessica Alba), but she has less to work with here. The plot is intriguing – it took me some time to really figure out what the ending meant – but the execution is too much like Silent Hill, i.e., like a video game. The same notion seems to occur to the heroine: Late in the story, she asks, “How many further levels do we have to go through?” There are lots of dazzling, imaginative visuals, but there are also unconvincing zombies and a few less successful effects. N.B.: While the visual impact is worthy of seeing on the big screen, the film is already showing as a free Video on Demand selection through the Sundance Channel. (Andy Klein) (Laemmle’s Sunset 5, ImaginAsian Theatre, 251 S. Main St., 213-6171033, Theimaginasian.com/la.)

STEALING AMERICA: VOTE BY VOTE Peter Coyote narrates this look at various methods of cheating employed – almost entirely by Republicans – in the elections of the last decade or two: fraudulent scrubbing of legitimate voters from the rolls, misallocation of voting machines to discourage African-Americans, and jamming Get Out the Vote phone lines. Those examples are a matter of record and have been covered in 2002’s Unprecedented and other docs. But director Dorothy Fadiman takes a broader approach, trying to build a case that electronic voting machines have been hacked and votes “flipped.” The use of electronic machines with no paper trail is indeed an invitation to mischief, but the case that this mischief occurred in 2004 and 2006 remains circumstantial. I find it believable, since there’s nothing I would put past the present day Republican Party, but Fadiman’s argument relies too heavily on the reliability of exit polls. Still, there is enough here and elsewhere to merit a real investigation. (I’m not holding my breath waiting for the limp Democratic Congressional majority to undertake one, even though it would be undeniably to their benefit in the long run.) Fadiman speaks to muckraker Greg Palast, pollster John Zogby, and many disaffected election officials, as well as including clips from The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. My favorite is programmer-turned-politician Clint Curtis, who says that loathsome, amoral Florida politico Tom Feeney asked him to develop ways to hack the new machines. But, as the film progresses, it becomes clearer and clearer that this is not so much a documentary in the usual sense as a recruiting tool. We never hear anything from the other side; and the film ends with a fulsome patriotic call to action, accompanied by the kind of

rousing music only a Republican could love. The music throughout is ham-fisted and irritating, ranging from Snidely Whiplash sinister to Bob Dornan bombastic. (Andy Klein) (Laemmle’s Music Hall 3)

TROPIC THUNDER An action star on the skids (Ben Stiller, who also directed and co-wrote), a “serious” Australian actor (Robert Downey Jr.), and a broad comic (Jack Black) are in the Vietnamese jungle, making the film version of the memoirs of a tough-tothe-point-of-psycho vet (Nick Nolte). The latter convinces the first-time director (Steve Coogan), under pressure from a thuggish studio boss (an almost unrecognizable Tom Cruise), to take them without crew on a trek through the jungle to generate some real fear in their performances. Unfortunately, local drug wholesalers think they’re DEA agents, and the danger becomes real. Consider this no more than half a review (if that): The projection at the last-minute screening I attended failed exactly halfway into the film, so I can say nothing definitive. As far as we got, it was downright hysterical, with Black playing (in essence) Chris Farley, and Downey’s character apparently a parody of Heath Ledger. (Oops.) Hollywood types love knocking Hollywood types, and they’re sure enjoying it here, with the fake film trailers and pretentious actor talk right on the button. I may have more to say next week after I get to see the rest of this, which I eagerly anticipate. There is no reason to think that the film suddenly turns to shit in the second half, but, as yet, I can’t guarantee that it doesn’t. (Andy Klein) (Citywide)

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA See Film feature.

WRANGLER: ANATOMY OF AN ICON Director Jeff Schwarz’s charming documentary offers a thumbnail history of gay porn, as reflected through the prism of trailblazing former hardcore performer Jack Wrangler. Wrangler was the first bona fide Gay Porn Star: A chiseled, hypermasculine hunk, who, with his tight glutes, firm jaw, and near-robotic erection, came across on screen as part Burt Lancaster, part Tom Selleck, and part remote-control jackhammer. He was also one of the first public figures who showed a man could be both contentedly gay and totally masculine. And, yet, Wrangler continued to defy sexual orientation expectations by switching mid-career to performing straight porn – and then, in middle age, falling in love (and marrying) Margaret Whiting, an elderly cabaret singer some 20 years his senior. The archival footage (including some of the thankfully less notorious scenes of Wrangler in action) provides a compelling sense of porn’s bygone bad old days. And, while we could wish that Schwarz had dug deeper into his psychologically complex subject, instead of merely recounting the chronology of Wrangler’s life, the film is an engrossing history of porn and of one of its most inscrutable per formers. (Paul Birchall) (Laemmle’s Sunset 5)

XXY During a vacation holiday with his parents to the coast of Uruguay, teenage boy Alvaro (Martin Piroyansky) falls in love with sweet beautiful Alex (Ines Efron), age 15. The problem is that she – or rather, he – is a hermaphrodite, with sex organs of both types. At his/her parents’ orders, Alex is on a constant diet of hormones to keep him/her in a state that is on the female side of the face. Yet, Alex, in a rebellious era of adolescence, spitefully quits taking her/his meds – with the result that Alex starts to realize some things about himself that shock him greatly. Argentinean writer-director Lucia Puenzo’s remarkably powerful drama skillfully takes the central intimate teen romance to haunting levels of angst and melancholy. Piroyansky’s tortured performance as the young man, who can hardly believe what he’s feeling, is brilliant – a scene towards the film’s end in which he pleads for his father’s love, which he lost years ago, is incredibly haunting and unexpectedly universal. (Paul Birchall) (Nuart)

ALSO OPENING THIS WEEK: Mirrors. A family is terrorized by a supernatural force that can enter their home through the mirrors. Alexandre Aja (High Tension, the 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes) directed this retread of Kim Sung-ho’s 2003 Korean thriller, Into the Mirror. Both sound like swipes from Douglas Heyes’s memorable Thriller episode, “The Hungry Glass.” Kiefer Sutherland and Amy Smart star. (AK) (Citywide) Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Animated Jedis and Siths do battle in the period between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Yawn. Dave Filoni directed this animated feature; Matt Lanter, Tom Kane, and James Arnold Taylor are among the voice artists. (AK) (Citywide)

SHOWTIMES AUGUST 15-21, 2008 Note: Times are p.m., and daily, unless otherwise indicated. All times are subject to cha nge without notice.

CULVER CITY, MARINA DEL REY The Bridge: Cinema De Lux & IMAX Theater, The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center, 6081 Center Dr, Westchester, (310) 568-3375. Call theater for titles and showtimes. Culver Plaza Theatre, 9919 Washington Blvd, (310) 836-

STARTS EVERYWHERE AUGUST 15

5516. Brideshead Revisited 11:50 a.m., 2:30, 5:05, 7:45, 10:15. God Tussi Great Ho Fri-Sun 1, 4, 7, 10; Mon-Thur 1:30, 4:30, 7:30. Hancock Fri-Tue 12:35, 5:05, 7:10; Wed 12:35, 5:05; Thur 12:35, 5:05, 7:10. Hellboy II: The Golden Army Fri-Tue 2:35, 9:15; Wed 2:35, 9:50; Thur 2:35, 9:15. Mongol 5:10, 7:45, 10:10. Singh Is Kinng Fri-Sun 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:15; MonThur 1:45, 4:45, 7:45. Space Chimps 11:45 a.m., 1:30, 3:20. WALL-E 12:50, 5:15, 7:30. The X-Files: I Want to Believe Fri-Sun 3, 9:30; Mon-Thur 3, 9. Loews Cineplex Marina Marketplace, 13455 Maxella Av, (310) 827-9588. Mamma Mia! Fri 1:25, 4, 6:50, 9:30; Sat-Sun 11:05 a.m., 1:45, 4:30, 7:20, 10; Mon-Thur 1:25, 4, 6:50, 9:30. Mirrors Fri 2:15, 5, 7:40, 10:30; Sat-Sun 11:15 a.m., 2:15, 5, 7:45, 10:35; Mon-Thur 2:15, 5, 7:40, 10:30.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Fri 1:20, 4:10, 7, 9:45; Sat-Sun 10:30 a.m., 1:20, 4:10, 7, 9:50; Mon-Thur 1:20, 4:10, 7, 9:45. Pineapple Express Fri 1:35, 4:20, 7:15, 10; Sat-Sun 11:30 a.m., 2:25, 5:15, 8, 10:40; Mon-Thur 1:35, 4:20, 7:15, 10. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri 1:15, 4:15, 7:05, 10:05; Sat-Sun 10:15 a.m., 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:15; Mon-Thur 1:15, 4:15, 7:05, 10:05. Tropic Thunder Fri 1:45, 4:30, 7:30, 10:25; Sat-Sun 11:25 a.m., 2, 4:40, 7:35, 10:25; Mon-Thur 1:45, 4:30, 7:30, 10:25. Pacific Culver Stadium 12, 9500 Culver Bl, (310) 8557519. The Dark Knight Fri-Sun 12:15, 4, 7:10, 10:25; Mon-Tue 12:05, 3:45, 7, 10:15. Fly Me to the Moon 3-D Fri-Sun 12:05, 2:30, 5, 7:15, 9:45; Mon-Tue 12:30, 2:40, 5, 7:15, 9:30. Mamma Mia! Fri-Sun 11:45 a.m., 2:20, 5:05, 7:45, 10:40; Mon-Tue 1:30, 4:35, 7:35, 10:20. Mirrors Fri-Sun 11:50 a.m., 2:25, 5:15, 8:15, 10:55; Mon-Tue 1:20, 4:20, 7:30, 10:10. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Fri-Sun 11:20

a.m., 2:15, 4:55, 7:40, 10:30; Mon-Tue 1:15, 4, 7:25, 10:05. Pineapple Express Fri-Sun 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:10, 3:10, 4:50, 5:45, 7:25, 8:25, 10:05, 11:05; Mon-Tue 12:25, 1:25, 3:05, 4:05, 5:45, 7:20, 8:25, 10. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Sun 11:05 a.m., 1:50, 4:40, 7:30, 10:20; Mon-Tue 1:05, 4:10, 7:10, 9:45. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Sun 11:15 a.m., 1:40, 4:05, 7:30, 9:55; Mon-Tue 12:45, 3:10, 5:35, 8, 10:25. Step Brothers Fri-Sun 11:40 a.m., 2:05, 4:25, 7:05, 9:40; Mon-Tue 12:20, 2:55, 5:20, 8:05, 10:30. Tropic Thunder Fri-Sun 11 a.m., noon, 1:45, 2:45, 4:30, 5:30, 7, 8, 9:50, 11; Mon-Tue noon, 1, 2:35, 4:15, 5:15, 7:05, 8:15, 9:50. UA Marina, 4335 Glencoe Av, (310) 823-1721. The Dark Knight Fri-Tue 11:50 a.m., 3:30, 7, 10:20. Henry Poole Is Here Fri-Tue 11:30 a.m., 2:10, 4:50, 7:30, 10. Open Captioned Performance - Selected Film - Daily FriTue. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Tue 11:10 a.m., 1:50, 4:30, 7:20, 9:50. Step Brothers Fri-Tue noon, 2:30, 5, 7:40, 10:10. Transsiberian Fri-Tue 11:20 a.m., 2, 4:40, 7:10, 9:40. Vicky Cristina Barcelona Fri-Tue 11:40 a.m., 2:20, 5:10, 7:50, 10:30.

DOWNTOWN & SOUTH L.A.

“SICK FUN WITH A FINALE THAT’S OVERSTOCKED WITH HIGH-END MAYHEM!” “GREAT FUN! AN ACTION-PACKED MIX OF GRISLY HORROR AND CHEEKY HUMOR!” OFFICIAL SELECTION

OFFICIAL SELECTION

FANTASIA FESTIVAL MONTREAL 2008

SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2008

Laemmle’s Grande 4-Plex, 345 S Figueroa St, (213) 6170268. The Dark Knight Fri 3:40, 7, 10:20; Sat-Sun 12:20, 3:40, 7, 10:20; Mon-Thur 5, 8:20. Tropic Thunder Fri 5:10, 7:45, 10:15; Sat-Sun 1:45, 5:10, 7:45, 10:15; Mon-Thur 5:10, 7:45. Magic Johnson Theaters, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, 4020 Marlton Av, (323) 290-5900. The Dark Knight FriSun 9:45 a.m., 12:40, 1:10, 3:50, 4:30, 7:15, 7:45, 10:30; Mon-Tue 12:40, 1:10, 3:50, 4:30, 7:15, 7:45, 10:30. Hancock Fri-Sun 11:50 a.m., 2:20, 4:10, 7, 9:30; MonTue 2:20, 4:10, 7, 9:30. Hellboy II: The Golden Army Fri-Sun 10:25 a.m., 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 9:50; Mon-Tue 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 9:50. Henry Poole Is Here Fri-Sun 11:25 a.m., 2, 4:35, 7:10, 9:45; Mon-Tue 2, 4:35, 7:10, 9:45. Journey to the Center of the Earth Fri-Sun 11:55 a.m., 2:40, 5, 7:20, 9:55; Mon-Tue 2:40, 5, 7:20, 9:55. Mirrors Fri-Sun 10:55 a.m., 1:45, 4:25, 7:25, 10:05; Mon-Tue 1:45, 4:25, 7:25, 10:05. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Fri-Sun 11:10 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 1:55, 2:25, 4:40, 5:20, 7:30, 8, 10:10, 10:40; Mon-Tue 1:55, 2:25, 4:40, 5:20, 7:30, 8, 10:10, 10:40. Pineapple Express Fri-Sun 11:30 a.m., 2:10, 4:55, 7:35, 10:20; Mon-Tue 2:10, 4:55, 7:35, 10:20. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Sun 11:15 a.m., 2:05, 4:45, 7:40, 10:25; Mon-Tue 2:05, 4:45, 7:40, 10:25. Space Chimps Fri-Sun 11:20 a.m., 1:25, 3:30, 5:40, 7:50, 10:15; Mon-Tue 1:25, 3:30, 5:40, 7:50, 10:15. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Sun 9:50 a.m., 12:15, 2:45, 5:15, 7:55, 10:35; Mon-Tue 12:15, 2:45, 5:15, 7:55, 10:35. Step Brothers Fri-Sun 10 a.m., 12:30, 3, 5:35, 8:10, 10:45; Mon-Tue 12:30, 3, 5:35, 8:10, 10:45. Tropic Thunder Fri-Sun 9:40 a.m., 12:10, 2:50, 5:30, 8:15, 10:50; Mon-Tue 12:10, 2:50, 5:30, 8:15, 10:50. University Village 3, 3323 S Hoover St, (213) 748-6321. Mirrors Fri-Sat 11:30 a.m., 2:10, 4:50, 7:30, 10:10, 12:35 a.m.; Sun-Thur 11:30 a.m., 2:10, 4:50, 7:30, 10:10. Pineapple Express Fri-Sat 1:30, 4:15, 7, 9:45, 12:15 a.m.; Sun-Thur 1:30, 4:15, 7, 9:45.

“MASTERFUL! SUBLIME!” - David Wiegand, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

“SUPERB!

A BREAKTHROUGH!” - David Lamble, BAY AREA REPORTER

“ONE OF THE YEAR’S MOST IMPRESSIVE DIRECTING DEBUTS.”

Tropic Thunder Fri-Sat noon, 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20, 12:40 a.m.; Sun-Thur noon, 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20.

HOLLYWOOD ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood, 6360 Sunset Bl, (323) 464-4226. Bottle Shock 11 a.m., 1:30, 4, 7:40, 10:10. Brideshead Revisited Fri-Sun 10:45 a.m., 1:55, 4:45, 7:55, 10:55; Mon 11 a.m., 1:55, 4:45, 7:55, 10:55; Tue 11 a.m., 1:55; Wed-Thur 11 a.m., 1:55, 4:45, 7:55, 10:55. The Dark Knight Fri-Sun 10:05 a.m., 12:20, 1:15, 3:30, 4:55, 6:55, 8:05, 10:30, 11:15; Mon 12:20, 1:15, 3:30, 4:55, 8:05, 11:15; Tue 12:20, 1:15, 3:30, 4:45, 7, 8:05, 10:30, 11:15; Wed 12:20, 1:15, 3:30, 4:55, 7, 8:05, 10:30, 11:15; Thur 12:20, 1:15, 3:30, 7, 10:30. Elegy Fri-Sun 10:20 a.m., 1, 4:10, 7:20, 10:20; MonTue 1, 4:10, 7:20, 10:20; Thur 1, 4:10, 7:20, 10:20. Henry Poole Is Here Fri-Sat 11:50 a.m., 2:10, 4:30, 7:30, 10, 12:20 a.m.; Sun-Thur 11:50 a.m., 2:10, 4:30, 7:30, 10. Mirrors 11:05 a.m., 1:45, 4:35, 7:45, 10:35. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor . Pineapple Express Fri-Sun 10:55 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 1:25, 2:20, 4:25, 5:20, 7:25, 8, 10:05, 11; Mon 11:40 a.m., 1:25, 2:20, 4:25, 5:20, 7:25, 8, 10:05, 11; Tue 11:40 a.m., 1:25, 2:20, 4:25, 5:20, 7:25, 8, 11; Wed 11:40 a.m., 1:25, 2:20, 4:25, 5:20, 7:25, 7:50, 10:05, 11; Thur 11:40 a.m., 1:25, 2:20, 4:15, 5:20, 7:25, 8, 10:05, 11. Showgirls Tue only, 8. Star Wars: The Clone Wars . Step Brothers Fri-Sat 11:15 a.m., 12:05, 1:35, 4:05, 7:05, 9:55, 12:05 a.m.; Sun 11:15 a.m., 12:05, 1:35, 4:05, 7:05, 9:55; Mon-Tue 11:15 a.m., 1:35, 4:05, 7:05, 9:55; Wed 11:15 a.m., 1:35, 4:05; Thur 11:15 a.m., 1:35, 4:05, 7:05, 9:55. Tropic Thunder Fri-Sat 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:20, 2:40, 4:20, 5:40, 7, 8:30, 9:45, 11:20, 12:15 a.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:20, 2:40, 4:20, 5:40, 7, 8:30, 9:45, 11:20; Mon-Wed noon, 1:20, 2:40, 4:20, 5:40, 7:35, 8:30, 10:25, 11:20; Thur noon, 1:20, 2:40, 4:25, 5:40, 7:35, 8:30, 10:25, 11:20. Vicky Cristina Barcelona Fri 12:15, 2:40, 5, 8:10, 10:50; Sat-Thur 11:30 a.m., 2, 5, 8:10, 10:50. Grauman’s Chinese, 6925 Hollywood Bl, (323) 464-8111. The X-Files: I Want to Believe Fri-Tue noon, 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10. Los Feliz 3, 1822 N Vermont Av, (323) 664-2169. The Dark Knight Fri-Tue 2:45, 5:45, 8:45. Pineapple Express 2, 4:30, 7, 9:30. The Rocker Wed-Thur 2, 4:30, 7, 9:30. Vicky Cristina Barcelona 2, 4:30, 7, 9:30. Mann Chinese 6, 6801 Hollywood Bl, (323) 461-3331. Cirque du Soleil: Delirium Wed-Thur 7. Hancock Fri-Tue 12:30, 3, 5:30, 8, 10:30. Hell Ride Fri-Mon 1:30, 7:20; Tue 1:30. Hellboy II: The Golden Army Fri-Tue 1, 4, 7, 9:50. Journey to the Center of the Earth Fri-Tue 11:40 a.m., 2, 4:30, 6:50, 9:20. Mamma Mia! Fri-Tue 11:30 a.m., 2:10, 4:50, 7:40, 10:20. Private Screening Tue only, 7:30. Sex and the City Fri-Mon 3:50, 9:30; Tue 3:50. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Tue 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10. Pacific’s El Capitan, 6838 Hollywood Bl, (323) 467-7674. WALL-E 10 a.m., 1, 4, 7, 9:45. Pacific’s The Grove Stadium 14, 189 The Grove Dr, Third St & Fairfax Av, (323) 692-0829. The Dark Knight FriTue 12:25, 3:55, 7:25, 10:55. Fly Me to the Moon 3-D Fri-Sun 9:30 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 2:10, 4:40, 7:05, 10; Mon 9:30 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 2:10, 4:25, 7:05, 10; Tue 9:30 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 2:10, 4:40, 7:05, 10. Henry Poole Is Here Fri-Tue 10:35 a.m., 1:35, 4:20, 7:20, 10:10. Mamma Mia! Fri-Sun 11:40 a.m., 2:25, 5:20, 8:25, 11:20; Mon 10 a.m., 12:30, 3:30, 11:20; Tue 11:40 a.m., 2:25, 5:20, 8:25, 11:20. Mirrors Fri-Sat 9:20 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 2:45, 5:30, 8:20, 11:15, 12:10 a.m.; Sun-Tue 9:20 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 2:45, 5:30, 8:20, 11:15. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Fri-Tue 11:35 a.m., 2:20, 5:10, 8:10, 11:05. Pineapple Express Fri-Tue 10:30 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 1:15, 2:35, 4:05, 5:20, 7:15, 8:15, 10:15, 11:10. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Tue 10:25 a.m., 1:30, 4:45, 7:35, 10:35.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Sat 9:25 a.m., noon, 2:45, 5:25, 8:05, 10:45, 12:40 a.m.; Sun-Tue 9:25 a.m., noon, 2:45, 5:25, 8:05, 10:45. Step Brothers Fri-Tue 11:30 a.m., 2:10, 4:50, 7:30, 10:20. Tropic Thunder Fri-Sat 9:35 a.m., 10:55 a.m., 12:10, 1:40, 2:55, 4:25, 5:45, 7:10, 8:30, 10:05, 11:25, 12:35 a.m.; Sun 9:35 a.m., 10:55 a.m., 12:10, 1:40, 2:55, 4:25, 5:45, 7:10, 8:30, 10:05, 11:25; Mon 9:35 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:10, 1:40, 2:55, 4:25, 5:45, 7:10, 8:30, 10:05, 11:25; Tue 9:35 a.m., 10:55 a.m., 12:10, 1:40, 2:55, 4:25, 5:45, 7:10, 8:30, 10:05, 11:25. Vicky Cristina Barcelona Fri-Tue 9:50 a.m., 12:15, 2:40, 5:15, 7:50, 10:25. Regent Showcase, 614 N La Brea Av, (323) 934-2944. Transsiberian Fri 5:15, 7:30, 9:45; Sat 3, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45; Sun 3, 5:15, 7:30; Mon-Thur 5:15, 7:30, 9:45. Vine, 6321 Hollywood Bl, (323) 463-6819. Vista, 4473 Sunset, (323) 660-6639. Tropic Thunder Fri 4:20, 7, 9:40; Sat-Sun 1:40, 4:20, 7, 9:40; Mon-Thur 4:20, 7, 9:40.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, UNIVERSAL CITY Century 8, 12827 Victory Bl, (818) 508-6004. The Dark Knight 12:10, 3:40, 7:10, 10:25. Mirrors 11:35 a.m., 2:20, 5, 7:40, 10:20. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor 11 a.m., 1:50, 4:40, 7:30, 10:15. Pineapple Express 10:45 a.m., 1:35, 4:25, 7:15, 10:05. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Tue 10:40 a.m., 1:30, 4:20, 7:05, 9:55. Star Wars: The Clone Wars 11:40 a.m., 2:15, 4:50, 7:25, 10. Step Brothers 10:15 a.m., 12:40, 3:05, 5:30, 7:55, 10:20. Tropic Thunder 11:15 a.m., 2, 4:45, 7:35, 10:10. Loews CityWalk Stadium 19 with IMAX, 100 Universal City Dr at Universal CityWalk, (818) 508-0588; IMAX Theater (818) 760-8100. Cirque du Soleil: Delirium Wed-Thur 7. The Dark Knight Fri-Sat 11:10 a.m., noon, 2:30, 3:30, 6, 7, 9:30, 10:30, 10:55; Sun 11:10 a.m., noon, 2:30, 3:30, 6, 7, 9:30, 10:30; Mon-Tue noon, 2:30, 3:30, 6, 7, 9:30, 10:30. The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience IMAX Fri-Sat 10:40 a.m., 1:45, 4:55, 8:10, 11:25; IMAX Sun 10:40 a.m., 1:45, 4:50, 7:55, 11; IMAX Mon-Tue 12:45, 4, 7:10, 10:20. Hancock Fri-Tue 8, 10:35. Hellboy II: The Golden Army Fri-Sun 11:40 a.m., 2:20, 5:20; Mon-Tue 2:20, 5:20. Henry Poole Is Here Fri-Tue 12:25, 2:50, 5:40, 8:15, 10:50. Journey to the Center of the Earth Fri-Tue 12:15, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40, 10:10. Mamma Mia! Fri-Sat 8:20, 11:10; Sun-Tue 8:20, 10:55. Mirrors Fri-Sat 11 a.m., 1:50, 4:30, 7:15, 9:55, 12:35 a.m.; Sun 11 a.m., 1:50, 4:30, 7:15, 9:55; Mon-Tue 1:50, 4:30, 7:15, 9:55. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Fri-Sat 11:20 a.m., 1:15, 2:15, 4, 5, 6:50, 7:50, 9:40, 10:40, 12:30 a.m.; Sun 11:20 a.m., 1:15, 2:15, 4, 5, 6:50, 7:50, 9:40, 10:40; Mon-Tue 1:15, 2:15, 4, 5, 6:50, 7:50, 9:40, 10:40. Pineapple Express Fri-Sat 11:25 a.m., 12:10, 1:10, 2:10, 3:10, 3:50, 4:50, 5:50, 6:30, 7:30, 8:35, 9:20, 10:20, 11:20, 12:10 a.m.; Sun 11:25 a.m., 12:10, 1:10, 2:10, 3:10, 3:50, 4:50, 5:50, 6:30, 7:30, 8:35, 9:20, 10:20; Mon-Tue 12:10, 1:10, 2:10, 3:10, 3:50, 4:50, 5:50, 6:30, 7:30, 8:35, 9:20, 10:20. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Sun 10:55 a.m., 1:45, 4:35, 7:35, 10:25; Mon-Tue 1:45, 4:35, 7:35, 10:25. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Sat 11:15 a.m., 12:20, 1:40, 3, 4:10, 5:30, 6:40, 9:10, 11:40; Sun 11:15 a.m., 12:20, 1:40, 3, 4:10, 5:30, 6:40, 9:10; Mon-Tue 12:20, 1:40, 3, 4:10, 5:30, 6:40, 9:10. Step Brothers Fri-Sat 11:30 a.m., 2, 4:45, 7:20, 9:50, 12:20 a.m.; Sun 11:30 a.m., 2, 4:45, 7:20, 9:50; Mon-Tue 2, 4:45, 7:20, 9:50. Tropic Thunder Fri-Sat 10:50 a.m., 12:30, 1:30, 3:20, 4:20, 6:10, 7:10, 9, 10, 11:45, 12:40 a.m.; Sun 10:50 a.m., 12:30, 1:30, 3:20, 4:20, 6:10, 7:10, 9, 10; Mon-Tue 12:30, 1:30, 3:20, 4:20, 6:10, 7:10, 9, 10. WALL-E Fri-Sun 10:45 a.m., 1, 3:40, 6:05, 8:30; MonTue 1, 3:40, 6:05, 8:30.

SANTA MONICA

“MIRACLES DO HAPPEN. ‘FROZEN RIVER’ IS ONE OF THEM.”

- Andrew O’Hehir, SALON

-Richard Schickel, TIME MAGAZINE

“POWERFUL AND INTENSELY DRAMATIC!” –Kenneth Turan, LOS ANGELES TIMES

“A THRILLER YOU CAN BELIEVE IN.”

WINNER

…I used to be a plumber

CANNES 2007

EPIC PICTURES GROUP AND WESLEY CLOVER PRESENTS A BROOKSTREET PICTURES PRODUCTION “JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER” TREVOR MATTHEWS RACHEL SKARSTENPRODUCTIONDANIEL KASH JAMES ASPECIAL WOODSMAKEUPWITHAND DAVID FOX AND ROBERT ENGLUND MUSIC RYAN SHORE EDITOR MATTHEW BRULOTTE DESIGNER JASON MACISAAC CREATURE EFFECTS DESIGN BY DAVID SCOTT/FORM AND DYNAMICS PRODUCED DIRECTOR OF EXECUTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY JOSHUA ALLEN PRODUCERS TERRY AND ANN MATTHEWS BY PATRICK WHITE TREVOR MATTHEWS AND NEIL BREGMAN STORY SCREENPLAY DIRECTED BY JOHN AINSLIE JON KNAUTZ TREVOR MATTHEWS PATRICK WHITE BY JON KNAUTZ AND JOHN AINSLIE BY JON KNAUTZ

WINNER

GRAND JURY PRIZE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL BEST PICTURE

WINNER

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

OUTFEST

FROZEN RIVER

www.brookstreetpictures.com/jackbrooks

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY

´ A FILM BY LUCIA

HORROR, VIOLENCE, GORE AND LANGUAGE

WEST HOLLYWOOD STARTS Laemmle’s Sunset-5 Theatres FRIDAY, (323) 848-3500

AUGUST 15

-Owen Gleiberman, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

CRITICS’ WEEK GRAND PRIZE

3 hours free validated parking with ticket purchase. Tickets available at laemmle.com.

WWW.FILMMOVEMENT.COM

CALL THEATRE FOR SHOWTIMES SORRY, NO PASSES ACCEPTED FOR THIS ENGAGEMENT

EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT STARTS FRIDAY, AUGUST 15TH!

www.landmarktheatres.com Fri.- Sun.: 12:30 • 2:50 • 5:10 • 7:30 9:50 Mon.- Thurs.: 5:10 • 7:30 • 9:50 Presented in

LACITYBEAT 32 AUGUST 14-20, 2008

COURTNEY HUNT

WWW.SONYCLASSICS.COM

PUENZO

VIEW THE TRAILER AT WWW.FROZENRIVERMOVIE.COM # WEST HOLLYWOOD Laemmle’s Sunset 5 (323) 848-3500 Tickets available @ laemmle.com Daily: 1:30 • 4:30 • 7:30 Fri. & Sat. Late Show: 10:00

# WEST LOS ANGELES The LANDMARK at W. Pico & Westwood (310) 281-8233 Free Parking. www.landmarktheatres.com Daily: 12:30 • 2:50 • 5:15 • 7:35 • 9:55

! ENCINO Laemmle’s Town Center 5 (818) 981-9811 " IRVINE Edwards Westpark 8 (800) FANDANGO #144

# PASADENA Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 (626) 844-6500 Tickets available @ laemmle.com "Presented in

!Presented in #Presented in

CHECK THEATRE DIRECTORIES OR CALL FOR SHOWTIMES

ACTRESSES MELISSA LEO AND MISTY UPHAM WILL DO Q&A AFTER BOTH THE 5:15 PM AND 7:35 PM SHOWS ON SUNDAY, 8/17 AT THE LANDMARK.

DAVID ANSEN

“ THE FUNNIEST MOVIE OF THE SUMMER

...GIDDILY ENTERTAINING, WICKEDLY SMART AND CINEMATICALLY SATISFYING.”

PETER TRAVERS

“A KNOCKOUT OF A COMEDY

THAT KEEPS YOU LAUGHING. ‘TROPIC THUNDER’ WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.” DAVID EDELSTEIN

“MARVEL AT THE GENIUS OF ROBERT DOWNEY JR.” THELMA ADAMS

“THE SUMMER’S FUNNIEST FLICK.”

NOW PLAYING AT THEATRES EVERYWHERE Check Local Listings for Theatres and Showtimes.

Text TROPIC to 33287 for Showtimes and Mobile Content. Standard messaging rates apply.

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT - NO PASSES OR DISCOUNT TICKETS ACCEPTED

“It slaps a big, fat, goofy smile on your face that lasts for days. Hardcore hilarious and the movie also has a heart. You’ll go limp from laughing!” –PETER TRAVERS

“Gut-busting comedy. Side-splittingly funny. Franco is a revelation. The laughs are almost non-stop.” – CLAUDIA PUIG

“

“Some of the most fun you’ll have at the movies this summer.”

“The most hilarious comedy of 2008.”

”

–BOB STRAUSS –TROY PATTERSON

“Hilarious.”

“Memorably hilarious.”

“A pure joy.”

–PETER HARTLAUB

–KAREN DURBIN

–LOU LUMENICK

NOW PLAYING HOLLYWOOD ArcLight Cinemas At Sunset & Vine 323/464-4226 On 2 Screens Fri-Sun 10:55 & 11:40 AM, 1:25, 2:20, 4:25, 5:20, 7:25, 8:00, 10:05 & 11:00 PM Mon-Tue 11:40 AM, 1:25, 2:20, 4:25, 5:20, 7:25, 8:00, 10:05 & 11:00 PM Wed 11:40 AM, 1:25, 2:20, 4:25, 5:20, 7:25, 7:50, 10:05 & 11:00 PM Thur 11:40 AM, 1:25, 2:20, 4:15, 5:20, 7:25, 8:00, 10:05 & 11:00 PM 4 Hours Validated Parking - $2

SANTA MONICA Mann Criterion 6 • 310/248-MANN #019 On 2 Screens Daily 10:50 & 11:50 AM, 1:30, 2:30, 4:10, 5:10, 7:00, 8:00, 9:40 & 10:40 PM

CENTURY CITY AMC Century 15 • 310/289-4AMC On 2 Screens Fri & Sat 10:25 & 11:40 AM, 1:15, 2:30, 4:05, 5:30, 7:05, 8:30, 9:55 & 11:20 PM Sun 10:25 & 11:40 AM, 1:15, 2:30, 4:05, 5:30, 7:05, 8:20, 9:55 & 11:05 PM Mon & Tue 11:10 AM, 12:05, 1:55, 2:55, 4:45, 5:35, 7:30, 8:30, 10:10 & 11:15 PM Fri & Sat Late Show 12:45 AM

SHERMAN OAKS ArcLight Cinemas At The Sherman Oaks Galleria 818/501-0753 On 2 Screens Daily 11:10 AM, 12:15, 1:55, 3:00, 4:35, 5:45, 7:15, 8:35, 10:05 & 11:15 PM 4 Hours Free Validated Parking

3 Hours Free Parking Additional 2 Hour Parking $3.00 with AMC Validation

L.A./BEVERLY HILLS Pacific’s The Grove Stadium 14 323/692-0829 #209 On 2 Screens Daily 10:30 & 11:25 AM, 1:15, 2:35, 4:05, 5:20, 7:15, 8:15, 10:15 & 11:10 PM 4 Hours On-Site Validated Parking Only $2.00

UNIVERSAL CITY CityWalk Stadium 19 with IMAX® 800/FANDANGO #707 On 3 Screens Fri-Sun 11:25 AM, 12:10, 1:10, 2:10, 3:10, 3:50, 4:50, 5:50, 6:30, 7:30, 8:35, 9:20 & 10:20 PM Mon & Tue 12:10, 1:10, 2:10, 3:10, 3:50, 4:50, 5:50, 6:30, 7:30, 8:35, 9:20 & 10:20 PM Fri & Sat Late Shows 11:20 PM & 12:10 AM Movie Parking Rebate $5 General Parking Rebate at Box Office with Movie Ticket Purchase (Excludes Preferred & Valet)

AND AT A THEATER NEAR YOU

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS. SORRY, NO PASSES ACCEPTED FOR THIS ENGAGEMENT.

WESTWOOD AMC Avco 310/475-0711 Fri, Mon-Thur 1:25, 4:10, 7:05 & 9:40 PM Sat & Sun 11:05 AM, 1:40, 4:15, 7:05 & 9:40 PM $4.00 Parking Fri-Sun/$3.00 Parking Mon-Thur At The Avco Center Parking

WEST LOS ANGELES The Bridge Cinema De Lux 310/568-3375 On 3 Screens Digital Projection Daily 11:30 AM, 2:10, 4:50, 7:30, 8:15, 10:10 & 10:40 PM 35MM Projection Fri, Mon-Thur 1:40, 4:20, 7:00 & 9:45 PM Sat & Sun 11:00 AM, 1:40, 4:20, 7:00 & 9:45 PM Fri & Sat Late Show 12:30 AM

AND

INVITE YOU TO LAUGH OUT LOUD WITH SEXY JESUS!

uring Featit Song H the

MES K C O R Y JESU SEXY

To enter to win a “Hamlet 2” Prize Package with an ROE pass and VIP Tickets to the send your name, address and daytime phone number to contests@lacitybeat.com

’S R A YE ON “ THIS LE E!” O P A N AMIT STEVE CATHERINE DYN COOGAN ! KEENER N WG

–D

RDS

CHA

RI EAN

SCATH FUNNINGLY Y! ”

“

DAVID ARQUETTE

! ELISABETH SHUE

– BR

UCE

HAN

A Run Of Engagement pass is good for two admissions Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays, at pre-specified theatre(s) and is valid through the film’s run of engagement of that theatre(s). Passes will be valid beginning Monday, August 25th, 2008. While supplies last. Limit one pass per person. No purchase necessary. Each pass admits two. No phone calls please. Employees of FOCUS FEATURES, LA CITY BEAT, IMPROVE and their affiliated agencies are not eligible.

OPENS NATIONWIDE FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

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Bourbon Jones on that train, on that train, that glory train BY REBECCA SCHOENKOPF

ong Beach, The Day: It used to be every Sunday. Every single one. You couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the filthy ocean from the wide patio of the Blue Cafe, just a blue, blue sky that never betrayed the cancer corridor right along the 710 coming up from the port. Long Beach seemed clean, drunk, and peopled with the best and funnest homeless. One old black cat â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in a Zoot suit, for real â&#x20AC;&#x201C; would do a little Moonwalk, a little Cab Calloway shuffle, tip his hat, and make his way to his next pressing piece of business. There were girls dancing too, right at the front, right in the sunshine, though some of the more acrobatic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Joy, for instance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; chose to dance out on the promenade instead, where there was more room for their balletic arabesques and grand jattes, stripper-style. Oh, my dad loved Joy. There were bikers, supermodel waitresses, dudes in wheelchairs who wanted to fight, tiny children who were indulgently allowed to play the drums during the set breaks, and a slew of topnotch musicians from all over waiting to get called to sit in with Bourbon Jones. Jake LaBotz would show up to harmonize; Fiona Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keys guy would show up to sit down at the Hammond B-3; Tom Waitsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drummer was only too happy to take a turn at the skins. And we would drink splits of Champagne and eat potato skins and dance until Monday. There really ought to be more Sunday afternoons that way. Bourbon Jones was a white-boy four piece blues and roots band (well, drummer Anthony Arvizuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Latino, I guess, and God only knows what bassist Mario Barmosca is, besides pure evil). And they were amazing. Each set would open with Chris Hanlin solo, accompanying himself on sexy gospel God-and-fuck music, his Indiana-raised yowl not a counterfeit but the true thing. Then the boys would come back, Barmosca mugging for the ladies and saying awful things like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The hand goes up, the mouth goes shut,â&#x20AC;? and Mikey Meyer sitting cool on harmonica, his wifebeater exposing the Metallica logo heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d carved into his forearm with a razor. One night (not at a Jones show), Meyer got electrocuted by an ungrounded wire. Twice. Arvizu was respectable; Hanlin was just sort of an arrogant dick; and Meyer and Barmosca were piles of very charming psycho. So much fun! It was 1992, and Hanlin was riding his bike down Broadway in Long Beach when he saw Barmosca playing his standup bass. He rode his bike right up the steps and into his apartment and said (like a giant dick!), â&#x20AC;&#x153;You wanna play, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play!â&#x20AC;? A few days later, he turned up again. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Learn these 40 songs,â&#x20AC;? he told Barmosca. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a gig.â&#x20AC;? Later, Hanlin got Barmosca kicked out of his apartment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was like three in the morning and I was really drunk and sitting on his step playing guitar and throwing bottles out into the street.â&#x20AC;? After nine years together, in 2001, Hanlin left the band, focusing his efforts on Long Beach supergroup the Dibs. (And when I say Long Beach supergroup, I mean it; the city then was a preposterous melange of crazy talent.) It was for the best: Meyer and Barmosca had a mean boys club and hated him by that point, and he reacted to their incessant needling about as well as an arrogant dick could. They played on without him for about another year, before Barmosca took off to Phoenix, where he owns a house, has a son (with the most supermodel of the Blueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fine waitstaff ), and in 2005 or so restarted Bourbon Jones with himself as the sole original member. Douche. Meyer married a stunning bartender who was a real-life witch, and then got divorced. He has a terrifying Rick Danko beard and works at his dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tile company or something. Arvizu runs the Compound studio, is playing a lot with Marc Ford (occasional guitar player for the Black Crowes), and is still, as far as I know, respectable. And Hanlin married one of my very best friends, and from that day forward was no longer a dick. For reals! Today they live on 80 acres in Santa Rosa; she teaches high school art; he fixes mandolins. When life is that good, you have to just be nice. For one night only, Bourbon Jones is coming back. Sadly, it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afternoon outside in the sunshine at the Blue, but it will be in the Cellar right next door. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably start with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Glory Train.â&#x20AC;? (This train is bound for heaven.) I hope Joy is there. Everyone else will be. Halleluja.

! "! # " $

! ! C8:@KP9<8K 8L>LJK (+$)'# )''/

Bourbon Jones play the Cellar, 201 E. Broadway, Long Beach, (562) 495-9000. Sat., Aug. 16, 9 p.m.

Jan & Dean The

Complete

Choice)

Liberty

Singles

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heresy to say aloud, I know, but these â&#x20AC;&#x153;clown princes of surfâ&#x20AC;? made more interesting music in a shorter period than ever did the Beach Boys. The historical moment that inspired all those classic Brian Wilson tunes, with their promise of an unchanging fun-fun-fun California all sunny skies and New Frontier optimism unmarred by the occasional masturbatory yawlp, is now dead as Deuteronomy. J&D, happily, make a livelier museum piece, with their sessionace accompaniment, snarky harmonies, and unfailing goofy-foot humor forming a big part of this collection. The pairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best-known songs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ride the Wild Surf,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Surf City,â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dead Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Curveâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; celebrate hot rod and hodad culture as a species of action-adventure, complete with laughs, danger, and two-girlsfor-every-boy sex (the latter something which shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be scorned â&#x20AC;&#x2122;til tried). Take out the sex and you have â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a still-uproarious cartoon poking gentle fun at a permanent all-age youth culture still afoot in every nosering gaffer on the Strip. An enchantingly titled followup, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Anaheim, Azusa & Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review and Timing Association,â&#x20AC;? is even better, with the leadfoot grannies now mobbed-up and blowing off doors all over north O.C. This two-CD singlesonly set is long overdue, but in no way replaces the Beatlesque whimsy and wonder of the duoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s albums on (long-defunct) Liberty. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Ron Garmon

Gospel Gossip

Sing Into My Mouth (Guilt Ridden Pop) In the liner notes the Jesus and Mary Chain are the first people thanked, which would lead you to believe that this record is some mopey, fuzzedout proto-shoegaze by kids who wear nothing but black. Well, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partially true. It certainly is indebted to the JaMC and their white-noise pop, but instead its first half is a summery affair whose lyrics recall the simpler joys of childhood and adolescence. Songs such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Revolutions in Physicsâ&#x20AC;? reflect upon these memories while â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lucky Lemmingsâ&#x20AC;? recall the bittersweet memories of falling in love for the first time. By the time you reach side B, it stretches its wings and explores the darker depths of its primordial feedback psychedelia that was merely hinted at in the first half. A split affair, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a compelling and rewarding listen. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Carman Tse

Action Biker

Hesperian Puisto (Friendly Noise) The precocious child of Eric Satie, Kraftwerk, and Brian Eno, Sarah Nyberg Pergament (a.k.a. Action Biker) releases her debut LP, Hesperian Puisto, just in time to soundtrack our late-summer romantic escapades, real or imagined. Puisto is a methodically ordered aquarium, warm, low-lit, and filled with understated-yet-lush imagery. With intimate synthesizers and pensive prose, this album is the aural equivalent of IKEA (theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re both Swedish, get it?), a self-contained utopia of minimal design and atmospheric lighting fixtures. Pergamentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s songwriting blooms with quiet sensuality, like hanging out in the bedroom of the prettiest girl in eighth grade while awakening to your nascent lesbian tendencies. Evoking a similar synesthetic response to her American cousins, Belle and Sebastian (theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re both twee, get it?), Action Biker suspends your sensorium in a softly glowing kaleidoscope of qualities both crisply modern and comfortably gemutlich. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just say, if I ever condoned the use of text on fashion, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d assuredly buy a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s listen to Action Biker and make-outâ&#x20AC;? T-shirt, and wear it around Silver Lake, brazen and unironic. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Ramie Becker

Lee â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scratchâ&#x20AC;? Perry

NIGHTBEAT

(Collectors

Repentance (Narnack) Lee â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scratchâ&#x20AC;? Perry has helped to expand the sonic landscapes of reggae and dub so much that his recent work has gone past the point of any similarity to his roots beginnings and instead serves as a template for a sinister and sleazy future of dance music. Co-produced by Andrew W.K., another man who knows how to make music for our hedonistic tendencies, Perry is at his finest serving this dark dish of dancehall with odes to ladyparts (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pum Pumâ&#x20AC;?) and declarations of being a messiah (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baby Suckerâ&#x20AC;?). Featured appearances on this album include Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt, Moby, and new wave porn star Sasha Grey. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Carman Tse

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE A passing of a friend and collaborator can be a sad occasion for a tribute, but last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death of keyboardist and singer Natasha Shneider will be remembered with plenty of uncompromising music from her comrades-in-arms, namely Josh Homme and his Queens of the Stone Age/Desert Session cronies. (The Russian-born Shneider, along with husband Alain Johannes, released five albums of progressive pop with their band Eleven, and also joined the Queens for their Lullabies to Paralyze tour.) Billed as a night of â&#x20AC;&#x153;music from the limits of its catalog & beyond,â&#x20AC;? a Kyuss reunion might still be out of the question â&#x20AC;Ś but one can hope. Yet with such guests as PJ Harvey, Brody Dalle, Jack Black & Kyle Gass, Billy Gibbons, Chris Goss, Jesse â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Devilâ&#x20AC;? Hughes, Matt Cameron, and more scheduled to perform, this celebration of Shneiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life should provide Queens fans with more than their fair share of music and passion in equal measure. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Joshua Sindell Sat. at the Music Box @ Fonda, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 930-7100, henryfondatheater.com.

THIS WEEKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HIGHLIGHTS THURSDAY, AUGUST 14

Bulletboys, Enuff Zâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nuff. Lest we forget. (OK, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not nice. Especially since Enuff Zâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Nuff were/sometimes are a great Windy City power-pop group. But the Bulletboys? Shudder.) Key Club, West Hollywood, keyclub.com. Chester French. Preppie Beach Boys fans from Harvard who look like the sadistic villains in Funny Games. Spaceland, Silver Lake, clubspaceland.com. Carmen Consoli, Juana Molina, Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers. Italian chanteuse Consoli heads a bill featuring Argentinean singer Molina, and Native American folkie Crain. Santa Monica Pier, free, twilightdance.org. 7 p.m. House Of Broken Promises, Chingalera. Muscular punk from desert-dwellers HOBP, and Sabbath-style stoner metal from Chingalera. With the Knives, and Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Casual. Viper Room, West Hollywood, viperroom.com. Robin Thicke. Something Else, the third album from the R&B star, is due in September. House of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, hob.com. Xiu Xiu, Carla Bozulich. S.F. avant-garde types Xiu Xiu are ably supported by former Geraldine Fibber Bozulich. The Echo, Echo Park, attheecho.com. Yellowjackets with Mike Stern. Veteran fusion quartet (plus guitarist Stern) hits the scene in support of new disc, Lifecycle. Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood, catalinajazzclub.com. Also Fri.-Sun.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15

Gipsy Kings. The French flamenco superstars headline the first of a two-night stand. Greek Theatre, Griffith Park, greektheatrela.com. Also Sat. Glay. The two-decade old Japanese rock outfit tours the States for the very first time. House of Blues Sunset Strip. Also Sat. Hanzel und Gretyl, Gen-XX. N.Y. industrial metal group Hanzel und Gretyl team with Genitorturers frontwoman Gen-XX for a night of black clothing and sweat. Key Club. Benji Hughes. North Carolina native Hughes has a big beard and a voice to match, heard on his 25-song, double-disc debut, A Love Extreme. El Cid, Silver Lake, foldsilverlake.com. Also Sat. Idina Menzel. The Broadway star (Rent, Wicked) performs. The Wiltern, Los Angeles, livenation.com. Jesse Michaels, Kevin Seconds. Operation Ivy cofounder Michaels appears with 7 Seconds leader Kevin for a night of stripped-bare punk. Knitting Factory Alterknit Lounge, Hollywood, knittingfactory.com. My Ruin. Tairrie B. and company indeed go on a tear on their latest disc of hair-raising metal, Throat Full of Heart. Whisky a Go-Go, West Hollywood, whiskyagogo.com. Smoking Popes. The reformed Popes return with their annoying, Morrissey-esque punk. With Koufax. Knitting Factory, Hollywood, knittingfactory.com. The Starlite Desperation. Abrasive garage rock from local up-and-comers. Redwood Bar, downtown L.A., theredwoodbar.com. Valient Thorr, Early Man, Skeletonwitch. Hey now! Prepare those ears for a doozy of an evening of proto-metal (Early Man), new jack thrash (Skeletonwitch) and blazing, Thin Lizzymeets-Turbonegro slabbage (Valient Thorr). The Troubadour, West Hollywood, troubadour.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16

Patton Oswalt. Make us laugh, funnyman! Knitting Factory Alterknit Lounge.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17

Bubba Hernandez & Los Vatos, Jeremiah & The Red Eyes, Kaz Murphy, Bird & Moons. The hoedown at the Grand Olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Echo begins at 5 p.m. Hosted by Chris Morris and DJ Cuzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Roy. The Echo. Jethro Tull, The Young Dubliners. Hey-nonny-nonny, hey nonny-ho! (Sorry, just wanted to get my classic folk-rock on.) Greek Theatre, Griffith Park. JVC Jazz Festival. Lineup includes James Ingram, Boney James, David Sanborn, Ledisi, and Eric Darius. Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, hollywoodbowl.com. Raphael Saadiq. The neo-soul survivor plays a rare local show. The Roxy, West Hollywood, theroxyonsunset.com. Vans Warped Tour. 40 punk and skate-rock bands play, including Against Me!, Angels and Airwaves, and Every Time I Die. Home Depot Center, Carson, warpedtour.com.

MONDAY, AUGUST 18

Gil Manteraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Party Dream. Casio/Kraftwerk/Daft Punk-loving duo sets sights on body-rocking beats. With Anavan. The Echo.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19

Glen Campbell. This Wichita lineman appears to be still on the line. The Troubadour. Evelyn â&#x20AC;&#x153;Champagneâ&#x20AC;? King. The disco veteran released her first album in a dozen years in 2007. House of Blues Sunset Strip. Dave Matthews Band, The Dynamites. The roots-rocking bore will get â&#x20AC;&#x2122;em hackying in the aisles. Staples Center, downtown L.A., staplescenter.com. Also Wed. Nico Muhly. Philip Glass protege Muhly collaborates tonight with Doveman and Sam Amidon on compositions found on latest work Mothertongue. Hotel Cafe, Hollywood, hotelcafe.com.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20

Black Francis. The once and future Pixie flutters into town yet again. Spaceland. Kittie. Canadian women, playing feral metal. Key Club.

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UPCOMING IN-STORES at AMOEBA! All shows are FREE and ALL AGES! For full calendar of events visit: AMOEBA.COM

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FLYING LOTUS

Join us for a special guest DJ set in our Friday weekly DJ series, Resonance! The new album from Flying Lotus, Los Angeles, is out now on Warp Records.â&#x20AC;&#x153;. . . second full album by Steven Ellison â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Alice Coltraneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great-nephew, Cartoon Network scorer, and the man behind the Flying Lotus moniker . . . Los Angeles is one of the slipperiest albums of the year and one of the most engrossing.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Stranger

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DJ NNAMDI

Special World Wide Underground guest DJ! DJ Nnamdi hosts Afrodicia, the most authoritative and current Los Angeles produced radio show covering music from the African diaspora, every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. on 90.7 KPFK

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AMOEBAPALOOZA

Amoebaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual celebration of musical mayhem returns to the King King in Hollywood! ONE NIGHT! 19 BANDS! 10 MINUTES EACH at THE KING KING ;88CB;;1 8A1 ,56?82C E .? ?52 1;;= E

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JANELLE MONAE

On her Big Boi-produced debut album, Monae blends R&B, funk, hip hop, and rock into a sound all her own. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Metropolis: The Chaseâ&#x20AC;? is out now on Bad Boy Entertainment. Playing 8/17 at the Roxy and 8/18 at The Viper Room.

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MATTHEW SWEET

Celebrating his new album, Sunshine Lies (out 8/26 on Shout! Factory). Playing live at The Echo 8/28!

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WHOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE CAT WHO WONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T COP OUT WHEN THEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DANGER ALL ABOUT? BY RON GARMON

THE VENTURES â&#x20AC;&#x153;PLAY THEIR GREATEST HITSâ&#x20AC;?

Aptly titled The Ventures Play Their Greatest Hits, this collection is being released in celebration of The Venturesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recent induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and a career that encompasses record sales nearing the 100 million mark, including 37 albums that hit the charts and 14 hit singles!

Store Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10am-9pm Fri. & Sat. 10am-10pm Sun. 11am-7pm

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Isaac Hayes (1942-2008) and How I Wouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Sandbagged Him: I was to interview the iconic soul composer last Tuesday, but he disobliged me by dropping over dead on an exercise machine the Sunday before. Our bratty editor was going to run â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chef â&#x20AC;? from South Park as the cover, but I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t about to waste a legendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time talking about popcult detritus I was over long before he was. Nor was I going to mention the cover to the fellow, preferring to surprise him. Now heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dead, and the obits seem to be memorializing a Cheffed-up Hayes, even reducing his stupendous achievements in soundtrack and orchestral soul to the hornbag crooning of a bedroom philosophe. The series is credited with reviving the Chained Oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career, but his distinctive personality in fact helped put across a one-joke cartoon that initially didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much else going for it. When he quit in 2006 over the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s depiction of Scientology, Trey Parker and Matt Stone blasted back that the musician had no problem helping them make fun of other religions, thus memorably conflating satire with Affirmative Action. No matter. The dignity of Hayesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1970 breakthrough album Hot Buttered Soul is outside the range â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even comprehension â&#x20AC;&#x201C; of snot-flickers. Even if his legacy was no more than the scores of great songs like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soul Manâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wrap It Upâ&#x20AC;? he and David Porter wrote for Stax mainstays Sam & Dave, his place in 20th century music would be immovably secure as an inventor of Memphis soul. The daring retooling of mainstream pop songs like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Walk on Byâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;By the Time I Get to Phoenixâ&#x20AC;? and the funky, dramatic score for Shaft (1971) hoisted him to temporary superstardom in that most ephemeral of eras. The soundtracks Hayes did for such B-movie carnage as Three Tough Guys (1974) have long outlived their thick-eared contexts, but I so wanted to ask him about the split-brain feat of scoring a film in which one also smashes heads and pumps shotguns. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s every possibility the main title theme for Truck Turner (1974) will outlive even â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chocolate Salty Balls.â&#x20AC;? Goa Going Gone? Standing around like stickwood with the overexposed likes of Avril Lavigne and Danger Mouse being something likely to bore my hillbilly ass off, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve yet to breach the art deco walls of Goa. This exclusive Cahuenga Corridor nightspot opened big late last year and still attracts the famous, semi-famous and attendant gawkers who think it rich to party with suchlike. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d chalk this up as a well-earned coup for the owners, but Paul Woolsey of the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council tells me the place is having the kind of zoning trouble thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been plaguing The Knitting Factory â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;They havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had a citation for dancing in about a month and a half,â&#x20AC;? he said offhandedly as we walked down Hollywood Boulevard, leaving me wondering about the kind of Cotton Matheroid hellhole Tinseltown is becoming. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not that anybody outside the front door of the establishment knows if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dancing or not going on. It has no effect upon the community, and it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really a land use decision. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rather like using the city codes and the planning codes for a morality thing, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been going on a long time. The point is, they have the dancing situation under control. We were working on getting the two other things fixed and having the original zoning administration hearing officer do what we call â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;an approval of plans,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; where you can change your CUP [Conditional Use Permit] conditions to increase capacity from 316 to 599, and to get rid of the ridiculous prohibition against ordering drinks at the bar. As it stands, only the hostess or server can get you a drink. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only about eight of these girls, and, needless to say, they have to deliver the food as well, and you get your drink a half-hour later if she can find you.â&#x20AC;? Well, there wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be such a thriving (if illegal as fuck) L.A. underground if local laws didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t positively mandate you have a miserable experience at licensed venues. Local officials lose elections only slightly more often than their colleagues in state-socialist dictatorships, and it would take a coronerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigation to prove a quorum of the County Board of Supervisors isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pulling a Weekend at Bernieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, so small wonder understrappers at City Hall pull this kind of rough stuff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The problem the authorities had with jazz back when my mom and dad were making the scene in Hollywood was that people of all different races were sitting around together,â&#x20AC;? Paul observed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still a matter of using planning controls to enforce morality. At this point, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largely a matter of civic habit. A lot of these codes have been on the books for generations. The revocation hearing is Tuesday morning and they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shut you down directly, but they can slap you with a lot of conditions that are as good as shutting you down. So weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see.â&#x20AC;? Paul called me Tuesday at the office with news that Goa had temporarily prevailed at the hearing and may yet survive. â&#x153;ś

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AMC Santa Monica 7, 1310 Third Street Promenade, (310) 395-3030. Cirque du Soleil: Delirium Wed-Thur 7. Journey to the Center of the Earth Fri-Sun 11:50 a.m., 2:20, 4:50, 7:20, 10; Mon-Tue 12:05, 2:30, 4:50, 7:20, 10. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Fri-Sun 11:40 a.m., 2:15, 5, 7:50, 10:30; Mon-Tue noon, 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Sun 11:15 a.m., 2, 4:45, 7:30, 10:20; Mon-Tue 2, 4:45, 7:30, 10:15. Step Brothers Fri-Sun 12:20, 2:50, 5:15, 7:45, 10:10; Mon-Tue 12:20, 2:50, 5:15, 7:40, 10:05. Tropic Thunder Fri-Sun 11 a.m., noon, 1:40, 2:40, 4:20, 5:20, 7, 8, 9:40, 10:40; Mon 12:10, 1:40, 2:40, 4:20, 5:20, 7, 8, 9:40, 10:30; Tue 12:10, 1:40, 2:40, 4:20, 5:20, 7, 8, 9:40, 10:40. WALL-E Fri-Sun 11:20 a.m., 1:50, 4:30, 6:45, 9:20; Mon-Tue 1:50, 4:30, 6:45, 9:20. Laemmle’s Monica 4-Plex, 1332 Second St, (310) 394-9741. Bottle Shock Fri 1:30, 4:10, 7, 9:55; SatSun 11 a.m., 1:30, 4:10, 7, 9:55; Mon-Thur 1:30, 4:10, 7, 9:55. Brideshead Revisited 1, 4, 7, 10. Elegy 1:50, 4:30, 7:10, 9:50. Tell No One 1:20, 4:20, 7, 9:55. Loews Cineplex Broadway, 1441 Third Street Promenade, (310) 458-1506. Henry Poole Is Here FriSun 11:30 a.m., 2, 4:40, 7:20, 10; Mon-Tue 12:30, 2:50, 5:15, 7:45, 10:05. Mirrors Fri-Sun 11:25 a.m., 2:10, 4:55, 7:40, 10:25; Mon-Tue 1:15, 4, 7, 9:55. Transsiberian Fri-Sun 11:05 a.m., 1:40, 4:20, 7, 9:40; Mon-Tue 2, 4:35, 7:30, 10:10. Vicky Cristina Barcelona Fri-Sun 12:25, 3, 5:35, 8:05, 10:35; Mon-Tue noon, 2:30, 4:50, 7:15, 9:40. Mann Criterion, 1313 Third Street Promenade, (310) 395-1599. The Dark Knight Fri-Tue 12:15, 3:40, 7:10, 10:30. Fly Me to the Moon 3-D Fri-Tue noon, 2:10, 4:30, 6:50, 9. Mamma Mia! Fri-Tue 11:20 a.m., 2, 4:40, 7:30, 10:10. Pineapple Express Fri-Tue 10:50 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 1:30, 2:30, 4:10, 5:10, 7, 8, 9:40, 10:40. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Tue 11:40 a.m., 2:20, 4:50, 7:20, 9:50.

SHERMAN OAKS, ENCINO ArcLight Sherman Oaks, 15301 Ventura Bl, Sherman Oaks, (818) 501-0753. Bottle Shock Fri-Tue 11:35 a.m., 2:05, 4:50, 7:20, 10. The Dark Knight Fri-Tue 11:55 a.m., 3:20, 7:05, 10:45. Fly Me to the Moon 3-D Fri-Tue 11:25 a.m., 1:35, 4:15, 7, 9:30. Henry Poole Is Here Fri-Tue 11:40 a.m., 2:15, 5, 7:30, 10:30. Jurassic Park Mon only, 7:30. Mamma Mia! Fri-Tue 11:45 a.m., 2:45, 5:15, 8:05, 11. Mirrors Fri-Tue 11:50 a.m., 2:30, 5:10, 7:55, 10:35. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Fri-Tue 11:30 a.m., 2:10, 4:55, 7:35, 10:25. Pineapple Express Fri-Sun 11:10 a.m., 12:15, 1:55, 3, 4:35, 5:45, 7:15, 8:35, 10:05, 11:15; Mon 11:10 a.m., 12:15, 1:55, 3, 4:35, 7:15, 10:05, 11:15; Tue 11:10 a.m., 12:15, 1:55, 3, 4:35, 5:45, 7:15, 8:35, 10:05, 11:15. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Tue 11:05 a.m., 2, 4:45, 7:40, 10:40. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Tue 11:15 a.m., 12:10, 1:45, 2:40, 4:20, 5:30, 8:20, 10:50. Step Brothers Fri-Tue 12:05, 2:35, 5:05, 7:45, 10:10. Tropic Thunder Fri-Tue 11 a.m., noon, 1:50, 2:50, 4:40, 5:40, 7:25, 8:30, 10:20, 11:20. Vicky Cristina Barcelona Fri-Tue 11:20 a.m., 1:40, 4:30, 7:10, 8:10, 9:40, 10:55. Laemmle’s Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Bl, Encino, (818) 981-9811. Frozen River 1:50, 4:20, 7:20, 9:50. Man on Wire 12:15, 2:35, 5, 7:40, 10:10. Sixty Six 2:50, 5:10, 7:30. Tell No One 1, 4, 7:10, 10. Transsiberian 1:20, 4:10, 7, 9:40. Triage: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma noon, 10. Mann Plant 16, 7876 Van Nuys Bl, Panorama City, (818) 779-0323. The Dark Knight Fri-Tue 1:45, 5:15, 6:45, 8:30, 10:10. Henry Poole Is Here Fri-Tue 11:40 a.m., 2:10, 4:40, 7:10, 9:40. Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D Fri-Tue 11 a.m., 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45. Mirrors Fri-Tue 11 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 1:40, 2:30, 4:20, 5:10, 7, 7:50, 9:40, 10:30. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Fri-Tue 11:20 a.m., 1:10, 2, 3:50, 4:40, 6:30, 7:20, 9:10, 10. Pineapple Express Fri-Tue 11:40 a.m., 1:30, 2:20, 4:10, 5, 6:50, 7:40, 9:30, 10:20. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Tue 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:30. Space Chimps Fri-Tue 12:10, 2:15, 4:30. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Tue 11 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 1:30, 2:20, 4:05, 4:50, 6:30, 7:20, 9, 9:50. Step Brothers Fri-Tue 12:30, 3, 5:30, 8, 10:30. Tropic Thunder Fri-Tue 11:10 a.m., noon, 1:40, 2:30, 4:10, 5, 6:40, 7:30, 9:10, 10. Pacific’s Sherman Oaks 5, 14424 Millbank St, Sherman Oaks, (818) 501-5121. Brideshead Revisited 1, 4:10, 7:15, 10:20. The Dark Knight 12:50, 4:05, 7:25, 10:45. Star Wars: The Clone Wars 12:45, 3:15, 5:45, 8:15, 10:45. Swing Vote 7, 10:05. WALL-E 1:20, 4:20. The X-Files: I Want to Believe 1:10, 4:15, 7:30, 10:10.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, BEVERLY HILLS, CENTURY CITY AMC Century City 15, 10250 Santa Monica Bl, (310) 277-2011. Cirque du Soleil: Delirium Wed-Thur 7. The Dark Knight Fri-Sat 9:30 a.m., noon, 1, 3:40, 4:30, 7:10, 8, 10:40, 11:35; Sun 9:30 a.m., noon, 1, 3:40, 4:30, 7:10, 8, 10:40; Mon noon, 1:45, 3:35, 7:05, 7:50, 10:40; Tue noon, 1:35, 3:35, 5:05, 7:05, 8:30, 10:40, 12:05 a.m.. I.O.U.S.A. Thur only, 7:30. Journey to the Center of the Earth Fri-Sat 9:40 a.m., 12:05, 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10, 12:30 a.m.; Sun 9:40 a.m., 12:05, 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10; Mon-Tue 12:30, 3, 5:25, 7:55, 10:30. Mamma Mia! Fri-Sun 11:10 a.m., 1:55, 4:35, 7:25, 10:05; Mon-Tue 11:25 a.m., 2:15, 5, 7:45, 10:20. Mirrors Fri-Sat 11 a.m., 1:50, 4:40, 7:35, 10:30, 12:55 a.m.; Sun 11 a.m., 1:50, 4:40, 7:35, 10:30; Mon-Tue 11:10 a.m., 2, 4:50, 7:40, 10:25. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Fri-Sun 10:40 a.m., 1:30, 4:20, 7:20, 10:10; Mon-Tue 11:45 a.m., 2:30, 5:20, 8, 10:50. Pineapple Express Fri-Sat 10:25 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 1:15, 2:30, 4:05, 5:30, 7:05, 8:30, 9:55, 11:20, 12:45 a.m.; Sun 10:25 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 1:15, 2:30, 4:05, 5:30, 7:05, 8:30, 9:55, 11:05; Mon-Tue 11:10 a.m., 12:05, 1:55, 2:55, 4:45, 5:35, 7:30, 8:30, 10:10, 11:15. The Rocker Tue only, 12:01 a.m. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Sun 10:50 a.m., 2, 4:55, 7:50, 10:45; Mon-Tue 10:50 a.m., 1:35, 4:25, 7:20, 10:15. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Sat 10:35 a.m., 1:20, 4:10, 7, 9:40, 12:50 a.m.; Sun 10:35 a.m., 1:20, 4:10, 7, 9:40; Mon-Tue 11:50 a.m., 2:25, 5:10, 7:50, 10:35. Step Brothers Fri-Sun 9:45 a.m., 12:15, 2:45, 5:20, 8:05, 10:35; Mon-Tue 12:45, 3:10, 5:40, 8:10, 10:45. Transsiberian Fri-Sun 11:05 a.m., 1:50, 4:25, 7:10, 9:50; Mon 11:05 a.m., 5:05, 11:10; Tue 11:15 a.m., 1:50, 4:20, 7, 9:30. Tropic Thunder Fri-Sat 10:30 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 1:25, 2:15, 4:15, 5:15, 7:15, 8:25, 10:10, 11:15, 12:55 a.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 1:25, 2:15, 4:15, 5:15, 7:15, 8:25, 10:10, 11:10; Mon 11 a.m., 12:10, 1:40, 2:50, 4:30, 5:30, 7:15, 8:15, 10, 11; Tue 11 a.m., 12:10, 1:40, 2:50, 4:30, 5:30, 7:15, 8:15, 10, 11, 12:15 a.m. WALL-E Fri-Sat 9:35 a.m., 12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:45, 10:15; Sun 12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:45, 10:15; MonTue 11:30 a.m., 2:10, 4:35, 7:10, 9:35. Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Bl, (310) 274-6869. Aida - Verdi (Opera) Sun only, 11 a.m.. Dayereh-e zangi Fri 5, 7:30, 10; Sat noon, 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10; Sun 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10; Mon-Thur 5, 7:30, 10. Falling Fri 5:20, 7:40, 9:55; Sat-Sun 12:40, 3, 5:20, 7:40, 9:55; Mon-Thur 5:20, 7:40, 9:55. Stealing America: Vote by Vote Fri 5, 7:20, 9:50; SatSun 12:20, 2:40, 5, 7:20, 9:50; Mon-Thur 5, 7:20, 9:50. La Traviata at la scala Thur only, 7:30. Laemmle’s Sunset 5 Theatre, 8000 Sunset Bl, (323) 848-3500. Frozen River 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10. Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer Midnight Fri-Sat; SunThur 10. The Neighbor Fri-Sat 1:45, 4:15, 7:15, 9:45; SunThur 1:45, 4:15, 7:15. Re-cycle Midnight Fri-Sat. Tell No One 1, 4, 7, 9:55. Beverly Center 13 Cinemas, 8522 Beverly Blvd., Suite 835, (310) 652-7760. American Teen 12:40, 2:50, 5:10, 7:20, 9:40. Get Smart 12:20, 2:40, 4:50, 7:20, 9:50. Hancock 1, 5:20, 9:40. Hell Ride 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 6:50, 9:20. Iron Man 12:20, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40, 10:10. Journey to the Center of the Earth 12:10, 2:20, 4:50, 7:10, 9:20. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl 12:30, 2:20, 4:40, 7, 9. Kung Fu Panda 12:50, 2:50, 4:50. Sex and the City 12:30, 3:30, 6:30, 9:30. Space Chimps 1:10, 3:20, 5:20, 7:10, 8:50. Swing Vote noon, 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10. The Wackness 12:50, 3:10, 5:30, 7:50, 10:10. Wanted 3, 7:30.

WESTWOOD, WEST L.A. AMC Avco Center, 10840 Wilshire Bl, (310) 4750711. Mamma Mia! Fri 1:45, 4:20, 7, 9:30; SatSun 11:15 a.m., 1:45, 4:20, 7, 9:30; Mon-Thur 1:45, 4:20, 7, 9:30. Mirrors Fri 1:35, 4:30, 7:10, 9:50; Sat-Sun 11 a.m., 1:35, 4:30, 7:10, 9:15; Mon-Thur 1:35, 4:30, 7:10, 9:50. Pineapple Express Fri 1:25, 4:10, 7:05, 9:40; SatSun 11:05 a.m., 1:40, 4:15, 7:05, 9:40; MonThur 1:25, 4:10, 7:05, 9:40. Step Brothers Fri 12:15, 2:35, 4:45, 7:20, 9:45; Sat-Sun 11:50 a.m., 2:15, 4:40, 7:15, 9:35; MonThur 12:15, 2:35, 4:45, 7:20, 9:45. Laemmle’s Royal Theatre, 11523 Santa Monica Bl, (310) 477-5581. Sixty Six 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 10. Landmark’s Nuart Theater, 11272 Santa Monica Bl, (310) 281-8223. The Midnight Meat Train Fri only, midnight. The Rocky Horror Picture Show Sat only, midnight. XXY Sub-Titled Fri-Sun 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:50; Sub-Titled Mon-Thur 5:10, 7:30, 9:50. Landmark’s Regent, 1045 Broxton Av, (310) 2818223. Swing Vote 7:15, 10. WALL-E 1:45, 4:30. The Landmark West Los Angeles, 10850 W Pico Bl, (310) 281-8223. Bottle Shock 11:30 a.m., 2:15, 5, 7:45, 10:15. Brideshead Revisited 1, 4:05, 7:10, 10:15.

The Dark Knight Fri-Mon 11 a.m., 12:40, 2:15, 4, 5:30, 7:15, 8:45, 10:30; Tue 11 a.m., 12:40, 2:15, 4, 7:15, 10:30; Wed-Thur 11 a.m., 12:40, 2:15, 4, 5:30, 7:15, 8:45, 10:30. Frozen River 12:30, 2:50, 5:15, 7:35, 9:55. Henry Poole Is Here noon, 2:30, 5:10, 7:40, 10:05. Mamma Mia! 11:10 a.m., 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50. Man on Wire 12:15, 2:40, 5:05, 7:30, 9:55. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 11:10 a.m., 1:55, 4:40, 7:30, 10:10. Tell No One 11 a.m., 1:50, 4:40, 7:35, 10:25. Vicky Cristina Barcelona Fri-Sat 11:45 a.m., 1, 2:20, 3:30, 4:50, 6, 7:20, 8:30, 9:50, 10:50; Sun-Thur 11:45 a.m., 1, 2:20, 3:30, 4:50, 6, 7:20, 8:30, 9:50. Majestic Crest Theater, 1262 Westwood Bl, (310) 474-7866. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 2, 4:30, 7, 9:30. Mann Bruin, 948 Broxton Av, (310) 208-8998. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Tue 11:10 a.m., 1:40, 4:20, 7, 9:40. Mann Festival 1, 10887 Lindbrook Av, (310) 2084575. The Dark Knight Fri-Tue 12:30, 3:45, 7:10, 10:20. Mann Village, 961 Broxton Av, (310) 208-5576. Tropic Thunder Fri-Tue 11 a.m., 1:40, 4:30, 7:30, 10:30.

WOODLAND HILLS, WEST HILLS, TARZANA AMC Promenade 16, 21801 Oxnard St, Woodland Hills, (818) 883-2262. Cirque du Soleil: Delirium WedThur 7. The Dark Knight Fri-Sat 12:05, 3:30, 4:20, 7, 7:55, 10:25, 11:25; Sun-Tue 12:05, 3:30, 4:20, 7, 7:55, 10:25; Wed 12:05, 3:30, 7, 10:25; Thur 12:05, 3:30, 4:20, 7, 10:25. Hancock 7:35, 9:55. Hellboy II: The Golden Army 5:05, 10:15. I.O.U.S.A. Thur only, 7:30. Journey to the Center of the Earth Fri-Sat 10:05 a.m., 12:40, 3:05, 5:35, 8, 10:30; Sun 10:05 a.m., 12:40, 3:05, 5:35, 8, 10:20; Mon-Tue 12:40, 3:05, 5:35, 8, 10:20; Wed 11:25 a.m., 1:50, 4:20, 9:35; Thur 12:40, 3:05, 10:20. Mamma Mia! Fri-Sun 10:40 a.m., 1:35, 4:30, 7:10, 10:05; Mon-Thur 1:35, 4:30, 7:10, 10:05. Mirrors Fri-Sat 11:10 a.m., 2, 4:55, 7:45, 10:50; Sun 11:10 a.m., 2, 4:55, 7:45, 10:40; Mon-Thur 11:10 a.m., 1:55, 4:55, 7:45, 10:40. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Fri-Sun 10:45 a.m., 1:30, 4:15, 7:05, 9:50; Mon-Tue 1:30, 4:15, 7:05, 9:50; Wed 1:30, 4:15, 7, 9:50; Thur 1:30, 4:15, 7:05, 9:50. Pineapple Express Fri 11:20 a.m., 12:35, 2, 3:25, 4:45, 6:15, 7:30, 9:05, 10:20, 11:50; Sat 11:20 a.m., 12:35, 2, 3:25, 4:45, 6:15, 7:30, 9:05, 10:20; Sun-Thur 11:20 a.m., 12:35, 2, 3:25, 4:45, 6:15, 7:30, 9:05. The Rocker Tue 12:01 a.m.; Wed 11:15 a.m., 1:45, 4:35, 7:05, 9:40. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Fri-Sat 10:30 a.m., 11:05 a.m., 1:25, 1:55, 5, 7:55, 10:40; Sun 10:30 a.m., 11:05 a.m., 1:25, 1:55, 5, 7:55, 10:35; Mon-Tue 11:05 a.m., 1:25, 1:50, 5, 7:55, 10:35; Wed 11:05 a.m., 1:55, 5, 7:55, 10:35; Thur 11:05 a.m., 1:25, 1:50, 5, 7:55, 10:35. Space Chimps Fri-Sun 10:15 a.m., 12:20, 2:30; MonThur 12:20, 2:30. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fri-Sun 10 a.m., noon, 2:35, 5:10, 7:40, 10:10; Mon-Thur noon, 2:35, 5:10, 7:40, 10:10. Step Brothers Fri-Sat 12:30, 3, 5:30, 8:10, 10:35; Sun-Thur 12:30, 3, 5:30, 8:10, 10:30. Swing Vote 4:40. Tropic Thunder Fri 11 a.m., noon, 1:40, 2:40, 4:25, 5:25, 7:15, 8:05, 10, 10:45, 12:35 a.m.; Sat 11 a.m., noon, 1:40, 2:40, 4:25, 5:25, 7:15, 8:05, 10, 10:45; Sun-Thur 11 a.m., noon, 1:40, 2:40, 4:25, 5:25, 7:15, 8:05, 10, 10:40. Vicky Cristina Barcelona Fri-Sat 10:10 a.m., 12:45, 3:10, 5:40, 8:10, 10:40; Sun 10:10 a.m., 12:45, 3:10, 5:40, 8:10, 10:30; Mon-Thur 12:45, 3:10, 5:40, 8:10, 10:30. WALL-E 12:10, 2:35, 7:50. Laemmle’s Fallbrook 7 Cinemas, Fallbrook Mall, 6731 Fallbrook Av, West Hills, (818) 340-8710. Bachna Ae Haseeno Fri-Sat noon, 3, 6:15, 9:30; SunThur noon, 3, 6, 9. Bottle Shock Fri 1:30, 4:10, 7:30, 10; Sat-Sun 1:30, 1:40, 7:30, 10; Mon-Thur noon, 2:30, 5:10, 8:30. Brideshead Revisited Fri-Sun 12:40, 3:50, 7, 10:10; Mon-Thur 1:40, 4:50, 8. God Tussi Great Ho Fri-Sat noon, 3, 6:15, 9:30; SunThur noon, 3, 6, 9. Henry Poole Is Here Fri-Sun 1:40, 4:20, 7:20, 9:50; Mon-Thur 12:10, 2:40, 5:20, 8:20. Singh Is Kinng Fri-Sat noon, 3, 6:15, 9:30; Sun-Thur noon, 3, 6, 9. Vicky Cristina Barcelona Fri-Sun 1:50, 4:30, 7:10, 9:40; Mon-Thur 12:20, 2:50, 5:30, 8:10.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS THURSDAY, AUGUST 14 American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, Santa Monica, (323) 466-3456. Aerotheatre.com. Sneak Preview – Henry Poole is Here, 7:30. Followed by discussion with director Mark Pellington. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood, (323) 466-3456. Egyptiantheatre.com. The 8th Annual Festival of SciFi, Fantasy & Horror – Deep End, 7:30; followed by The Witches. CineFamily at the Silent Movie Theatre, Hollywood, (323) 655-2520. Silentmovietheatre.com. Don’t Knock The Rock ’08 – If It Ain’t

Stiff, 8. New Beverly Cinema, L.A., (323) 938-4038. Newbevcinema.com. Angel Heart, 7:30; Birdy, 9:45. Dawna of the Dead (2008), 11:59.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre The 8th Annual Fest of Fantasy, Horror & Sci-Fi: A Tribute to Stan Winston – Aliens, 7:30; followed by Pumpkinhead. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre The 8th Annual Festival of Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror – The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas, 7:30; followed by Island of Terror and Island of the Burning Damned. CineFamily at the Silent Movie Theatre The Female Gaze – Love and Anarchy, 7:30. Summer “Camp” – Picture Mommy Dead, 10:15. L.A. County Museum of Art, Leo S. Bing Theatre, L.A., (323) 857-6010. Lacma.org. Richard Quine at Columbia – My Sister Eileen, 7:30; Bell, Book and Candle, 9:30. New Beverly Cinema Notorious, 7:30; Rebecca, 9:30. Reservoir Dogs, 11:59. UCLA Film & Television Archive at the Billy Wilder Theater, Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Bl, L.A., Info: (310) 206-3456 or Hammer.ucla.edu. Los Angeles Restoration Premiere – The Exiles, 7:30.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16 American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre The 8th Annual Fest of Fantasy, Horror & Sci-Fi: A Tribute to Stan Winston – Predator, 7:30; followed by Predator 2. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre The 8th Annual Festival of Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror – Prometheus Triumphant – A Fugue in the Key of Flesh, 5. Dementia 13, 7:30; followed by Curse of the Faceless Man and Frankenstein’s Daughter. Discussion between first two films with actor Richard Anderson. CineFamily at the Silent Movie Theatre Don’t Knock The Rock ’08 – Sonic Youth: Sleeping Nights Awake, 4:30; followed by Q&A with director Michael Albright. Nakadai/Samurai – Kill!, 7:30. When Animals Attack – Night of the Lepus, 10. L.A. County Museum of Art, Leo S. Bing Theatre Richard Quine at Columbia – Operation Mad Ball, 7:30; The Notorious Landlady, 9:30. New Beverly Cinema Notorious, 3, 7:30; Rebecca, 5, 9:30. Special Midnight 1970s Adult Cinema Show, 11:59. UCLA Film & Television Archive at the Billy Wilder Theater, Hammer Museum The Ex-

iles, 2, 7:30.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17 American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre Family Matinee – Cartoon Network’s Summerific Sunday, 4. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre The 8th Annual Festival of Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror – Robinson Crusoe on Mars, 7:30; followed by Mutiny in Outer Space. CineFamily at the Silent Movie Theatre Our Gang Shorts, 1. New Beverly Cinema The Professionals, 5:40; The Magnificent Seven, 8; UCLA Film & Television Archive at the Billy Wilder Theater, Hammer Museum The Exiles, 7, 8:45.

MONDAY, AUGUST 18 New Beverly Cinema The Magnificent Seven, 7:30; The Professionals, 10. UCLA Film & Television Archive at the Billy Wilder Theater, Hammer Museum The Exiles, 7:30, 9:45.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19 CineFamily at the Silent Movie Theatre TRYPPS TRYPPS TRYPPS TRYPPS TRYPPS, 8. L.A. County Museum of Art, Leo S. Bing Theatre Tuesday Matinee – The Invisible Boy, 1. New Beverly Cinema The Magnificent Seven, 7:30; The Professionals, 10. UCLA Film & Television Archive at the Billy Wilder Theater, Hammer Museum The Exiles, 7:30, 9:45.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20 Alex Theatre, 216 N Brand Bl, Glendale, (818) 243-7700. AlexFilmSociety.org. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, 7:30. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre The 8th Annual Festival of Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror – Island of Lost Souls, 7:30; followed by Kongo. ArcLight Cinema/Cinerama Dome, 6360 W Sunset Bl, L.A., (323) 464-4226. Arclightcinemas.com. Annie Hall, 8. CineFamily at the Silent Movie Theatre Silent Satyrs – The Gaucho, 8. New Beverly Cinema The Seven Samurai, 8. UCLA Film & Television Archive at the Billy Wilder Theater, Hammer Museum The Exiles, 7:30, 9:45.

AUGUST 14-20, 2008 39 LACITYBEAT

Assassins. Once again, the misfits who killed or tried to kill American presidents unite in the macabre chorus line of the Stephen Sondheim/ John Weidman musical, produced by West Coast Ensemble. The script brilliantly demonstrates how the optimistic can-do platitudes of the American dream can become twisted into ghastly criminal acts. Director Richard Israel’s rendition includes an intermission, although no obvious break exists, and the pretty but predictable (and sometimes excised) “Something Just Broke.” It’s also the first Assassins that I recall with a female Balladeer (Dana Reynolds, whose voice isn’t big enough at the role’s climactic moment). Still, this production’s best moments achieve their inherent power. Shannon Stoeke is especially strong as a grinning Proprietor and as Lee Harvey Oswald. El Centro Theatre, Hollywood. (323) 460-4443. tix.com. Closes Sept. 28. DeLEARious. This riff on King Lear plays like a full-length Second City musical – its author/director Ron West is a Second City vet. He and the show’s composer Phil Swann earlier did The People vs. Friar Laurence, which similarly manhandled Romeo and Juliet. The high quality of wit holds up longer than expected – even as the plot detours into the writing of the King James Bible and the auditions for this very musical. It’s a little long, but the pace stays rapid. The quicksilver actors play many roles in three eras on a nearly bare stage, but we never lose our place. It’s probably the most delirious Lear you’ll ever see. Open Fist Theatre, Hollywood. (323) 882-6912. openfist.org. Closes August 29. Gulls. This new musical transplants and updates Chekhov’s The Seagull to New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, 1959. The young poet (John Keefe) performs his latest opus for his famous actress mother (Rende Rae Norman) on a Greenwich Village rooftop over his uncle’s apartment. The mother’s new lover (Robert Mammana) eyes the son’s flame, aspiring actress Nina (Sabrina Sloan). But there are some major departures from the original – gay longings and a ghostly African American narrator (Harrison White). His role feels ham-fistedly and expendably anti-

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Chekhovian. Still, the jazzy score by Maury McIntyre and book writer Nick Salamone and Jessica Kubzansky’s staging achieve an evocation of an American cusp-of-change moment just as Chekhov did with his own fin-de-siecle era. Theatre@Boston Court, Pasadena. (626) 683-6883. bostoncourt. org. Closes August 24.

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Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Watching Eugene O’Neill’s long play’s journey into night outdoors, as darkness encircles the stage, isolates the characters in their angst more effectively than most versions. Heidi Helen Davis’s staging of O’Neill’s autobiographical tale of one day in August 1912, at the Tyrone summer home in Connecticut, features William Dennis Hunt as the aging matinee idol, Ellen Geer as his drug-addicted wife, Jim LeFave as their older, boozier son and Aaron Hendry as their younger, consumption-stricken offspring. The threehour play requires a rested and alert audience, but its temperamental outbursts and quieter moments somehow seem more organic and less fatiguing in this charmed setting. Barring an occasional flubbed line or a few intrusive offstage noises, the actors successfully raise these iconic characters from the dead. Theatricum Botanicum, Topanga. (310) 4553723. theatricum.com. Closes Sept. 27. The Spin Cycle. David Rambo’s comedy examines an aging Pennsylvania mom (Marcia Rodd) and her two boomer children – a 51-year-old single time-share saleswoman (Stephanie Zimbalist) from Florida, and a happy-go-lucky Peter Pan-like fortysomething (Morgan Rusler), who’s all too willing to move back with Mom. The siblings have to assume more caregiver responsibilities for their mom -- and squabble every step of the way. Rambo tries to enliven familiar material with flashing lights and sirens that signal a change of perspective from one character to another. But the gimmick seldom uncovers anything surprising and soon grows tiresome. James O’Neil’s direction of a strong cast maintains our interest, but the play doesn’t delve very deeply. (Full disclosure: I arrived about two minutes late but later read the dialogue of the opening scene). Rubicon Theatre, Ventura. (805) 667-2900. rubicontheatre.org. Closes August 24. Suffer the Long Night. Not to be confused with Long Day’s Journey Into Night, this funny lark pretends to be a community theater production of an earnest crime drama, about a ’50s family held hostage by two escaped convicts. Most of the “Merrillville Merry Art Players” are out sick, so their suddenly drafted replacements struggle with just about everything, generating big mishaps and big giggles. The director/co-writer Greg Glienna appears as the most hilariously wooden cast member. He and co-writer Mary Ruth Clarke created the original 1992 low-budget movie Meet the Parents, which was later remade and transformed into a giant comedy film franchise. Meta Theatre, Melrose district. (323) 960-7745. Plays411.com/suffer. Closes Sept. 14.

DO THE TUSSLE

ED KRIEGER

STAGE

‘PEN’ AND THE PROSTITUTE Talking ’bout their generations BY DON SHIRLEY

young, would-be adult vs. a controlling parent or parents – it’s one of the most evergreen battlegrounds in life, and in theater. Anyone who’s involved in such generational disputes can take consolation in the universality of such struggles by sampling a couple of productions set in earlier eras. Although David Marshall Grant’s Pen surfaced in New York two years ago, it’s set at the end of the ’60s, when youthful rebellion in America was at its most intense. But Grant’s play steers clear of the usual cliches about flower children and repressive parents. Teenaged Matt (Dennis Bendersky) is torn between his divorced parents, who happen to be politically liberal. He lives with his mother, Helen ( Jill Remez), a multiple sclerosis patient who spends most of her waking hours in a wheelchair, relying on her son for physical assistance as well as emotional support. Her plan to send Matt to Stony Brook for college, not far from their Long Island home, gathers steam in the play’s first scene, set in October of Matt’s senior year. Cut ahead two months, and Matt’s having a Christmas dinner with his father Jerry (Robert Mackenzie), who’s equally determined that Matt head to L.A. to attend his own alma mater, USC. Such a crosscountry move for Matt would coincide with that of Jerry, whose new girlfriend is L.A.-bound. It would, of course, leave Helen feeling completely abandoned. These first scenes are jagged but realistic – a texture that’s suddenly pierced at the end of the first act by what might be called magical realism, if these were Latin Americans. The first scene of the second act also plays with theatrical convention in an unexpected fashion. These scenes require an extra suspension of disbelief, but they’re worth it. Grant uses a variety of techniques to delineate the line between love and neediness, in both generations. He successfully heightens what might be a mundane story in less imaginative hands. Pen is a notable improvement over Grant’s Snakebit, which was produced in L.A. in 2000. Jeff G. Rack’s staging of Pen for Theatre 40 is a stinging, ultimately sobering West Coast premiere. This professional company

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performs on the campus of Beverly Hills High School, from which 17-year-old Bendersky just graduated. His age-specific casting helps maintain a sense of hard-core authenticity even as the play employs a dose of fantasy. Meanwhile, in Valley Village, the Production Company is reviving one of the best plays ever written about this wrestling match between the generations. Actually, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, by George Bernard Shaw, is also about other subjects, such as the sexism that kept women confined in Victorian England and the hypocrisy that allowed society to sneer at the successful Mrs. Warren (Gillian Doyle), who overcame poverty by running houses of prostitution. But the dramatic conflict that keeps the heart of the play beating is the tussle between Mrs. Warren and her collegeeducated daughter Vivie ( Joanna Strapp), 22, who’s finally demanding to know the source of her mother’s prosperity. When she learns the truth, Vivie is initially sympathetic to her mother’s struggles. But then she learns that the business is still booming, that her mother is in a partnership with Vivie’s oily older suitor (Skip Pipo), and that Vivie’s frisky younger suitor ( Jeremy Lelliott) is unwittingly compromised as well. The young woman finally declares her total independence from her mother. Unlike Grant in Pen, Shaw allows no trace of fantasy. This 1893 play, which was censored for years, still feels breathtakingly uncompromising – and compact, by Shaw’s later standards. August Viverito’s rigorously clear-headed production feels slightly cramped by the small venue, but of course the consolation is a feeling of extreme intimacy. Ringside seats are the best vantage points for these bouts between the generations. ✶

Pen, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills. (310) 364-0535. theatre40.org. Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Chandler Studio Theatre, Valley Village. (800) 838-3006. theprodco.com. For more reviews, go to lacitybeat.com, click on LA&E and Stage.

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Paul Mantee

ne of J.G. Ballardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best stories, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Man Who Walked on the Moonâ&#x20AC;? reminds me a little of Paul Mantee. In some tourist trap of uncertain nationality lives an American whose vaguely famous looks make credible the astronaut yarns he sells tourists for drinks. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plausible and engaging enough to make the chumps want to sit next to him, to rub up against mind-bending danger. Paul Mantee never trod the moon, but, as title character of the cult SF film Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964), braved the Red Planet at its angriest. This thoughtful B-movie (with a rare screening Sunday at the Egyptian) boasted a starmaking performance by Mantee as a sort of Apeneck Sweeney among the aliens. The film sank without trace and the actor went on to character bits in films like They Shoot Horses, Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t They? and The Manitou before the phone eventually stopped ringing in the 1990s. At about this time, Paul began a second career as a writer and novelist while hitting the SF convention circuit, usually with Victor Lundin, Man Friday to his Crusoe decades ago. I had a zine to sell in those days, so thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where I first met him, posing for pics and wowing the civilians with all the old stories â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Ron Garmon L.A. CityBeat: How did you get the part in RCOM anyway? Paul Mantee: It was one of those things where they called everybody in town. I was working as a maitre dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at the time, making the princely sum of $50 a week and all I could eat at the Dover House on La Cienega, so I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think I had anything to lose or gain. So I was relaxed when I went in to read, just wore a shiny blue suit and shoes with holes in them. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what got me the part. I also looked like [astronaut] Alan Shepard back in those days. The director Byron Haskin was a nice man who understood action, but he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an actorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director. You carried a great deal of screen time alone, which was a hell of a thing for an unknown performer. The monkey and I carried it! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget him. His name was Barney, and he and I bonded after a while, but our relationship was difficult at first. This was his screen debut and when monkeys get nervous, well, they kind of let go, which usually happened all over my spaceman suit. They outfitted him with a little jockstrap, or else he wouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been at himself the whole time. That monkey and I went out on a promotional tour later â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 13 cities in 13 days. He died soon after; what a trouper. How long did the shoot take? Ten weeks. The first two were in Death Valley, where I did a lot of the physical

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Strange behavior tends to be the rule at these things. I well remember the flight back from New York where you, me, and [bikermovie king] William Smith passed around a quart of Scotch and got rowdy as fuck with the stewardess. Jeez, Billâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a huge guy and penned up in that little space! That mustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been very trying for the other passengers. Then you became a writer, clever fellow that you are, first publishing comic articles in TV Guide about your career, then later a novel, In Search of the Perfect Ravioli. Which is a disguised version of my life growing up in San Francisco. That came out in 1993 and I did a second book, called Bruno of Hollywood, in â&#x20AC;&#x2122;94. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve since turned my first novel into a screenplay, so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see who takes it. Back when I first started in the trade, you advised me to write from my balls. Every time Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken your advice, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s caused me trouble! [Laughs] Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better than the advice the sportswriter Red Smith gave about journalism: â&#x20AC;&#x153;First, roll in a sheet of paper. Second, open a vein.â&#x20AC;?â&#x153;ś Robinson Crusoe on Mars screens Sun., Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m., at the Egyptian Theatre, paired with the little-seen Mutiny in Outer Space. Mr. Mantee says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll attend if he can get a ride from Malibu.

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CAREGIVERS SENT TO YOU! MooreCare in-home support for homebound patients and seniors. Keeping your loved one INDEPENDENT. (310) 590-6441. www.moorecarebb.com PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Talk with caring agency specializing in matching Birthmothers with Families nationwide. LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Call 24/7 Abby's One True Gift Adoptions 866-413-6293

Mind, Body, Spirit

HANDS OF EXPERIENCE: Certified, Mature & Experience. Authentic Swedish / Esalen Full Body Combined with Deep Tissue & Stretching. Nurturing, Relaxing & Safe. Mke 818-842-5401 $50 & UP FOR HAIR EXTENSIONS cornrows & devine, straighten or curl hair, men, women and children, call Starkle @ 323-404-7015 THE TEEN LINE NEEDS YOU! ARE YOU IN THE 9TH-11TH GRADE & WANT TO HELP OTHER TEENS. WE ARE SEEKING TEEN VOLUNTEERS TO TRAIN FOR OUR TEEN TO TEEN HOTLINE TO HELP CALLERS WITH ANY KIND OF PROBLEM. TRAINING BEGINS IN OCTOBER. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE

SEPTEMBER 22. CALL ANY EVENING 6-10PM AT 1800TLC-TEEN OR DOWNLOAD APPLICATION AT WWW. TEENLINEONLINE.ORG

Electronics

GET A NEW COMPUTER: Brand Name laptops & desktops Bad or NO Credit - No Problem Smallest weekly payments available. It’s yours NOW - CALL 800-8038819 (AAN CAN) ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN 111 alternative newspapers like this one. Over 6 million circulation every week for $1200. No adult ads. Call Stephanie at 202-289-8484. (AAN CAN) FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR? Goto www.lac itylist.com

JobSmart

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post your ad free online

To Advertise Call 323-938-1001

Commit to Quality Join MWD’s Award-Winning Team

Intake Pumping Plant on the Colorado

Maintaining its waste distributing system

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) is the nation’s Largest provider of treated drinking water. Each day the district moves more than 1.5 billion gallons of water through its distribution system delivering supplies to 26 member agencies, which sell that water to more than 300 sub-agencies or directly to consumers. In all 18 million Southern Californians rely on MWD for some or all of the water they use in their homes and businesses.

F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant

Since 1928, MWD has proudly served the people of Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. Its award-winning success relies on state-of-the-art technology, and efficient operation and maintenance by MWD’s professionals, who have built an intricate supply system through innovation, teamwork, diversity and hard work. Now you too can contribute to our success.

We are increasing our agency-wide workforce and have a number of positions available at our various facilities throughout Southern California.

Immediate Need for Principal Aduitor Also Hiring For: • Accounting & Finance • Electronics • Information Technology • Maintenance

• Administrative • Engineering • Operations

Comprehensive Benefits Package: MWD offers an outstanding benefits package that includes family health, dental, and vision care, a 401k financial plan with generous employer matching as well as a 457 plan, tuition reimbursement, extensive in-house training, flexible work schedules, and 14 paid holidays.

For More Information and to Apply

Visit: www.mwdh2o.com Submit an on-line career interest card for e-mail notification of new opportunities.

THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

ApartmentRentals

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post your ad free online

To Advertise Call 323-938-1001

see yourself living here

1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and townhomes available BEVERLY

FAIRFAX

O WILSHIRE

LA BREA

the Grove

GARDNER

Farmers Market

3RD ST.

866.466.5426

w w w. p a l a z z o - p l b . c o m w w w. p a l a z z o s p a . c o m

Apartment Homes & Spa directly across from the Grove Short term and Furnished Apartments avaliable. We Cooperate with Real Estate Agents.

LACITYBEAT 48 AUGUST 14-20, 2008

6220 WEST 3RD STREET LOS ANGELES, CA 90036

ApartmentRentals

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Rentals

BURBANK RENTAL: 3 bdr 1 1/2 bath huge master suite with balcony no credit ok $995 per month 1866-5996584 FURNISHED VERY COOL HOUSE FOR RENT: Bel Air Beverly Glen. fully restored 1928 enclosed Cape Cod cottage w awnings, 2 bd., 1.5 ba, 2 car garage, manicured yard w flowers, 5’ Jacuzzi, aqua therapy, includes spa, pool, gardener, utilities, 1 yr lease + security deposit, $4,250, call Diane

ALL AREAS - ROOMMATES.COM. Browse hundreds of online listings with photos and maps. Find your roommate with a click of the mouse! Visit: www.Roommates.com. (AAN CAN) FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR? Goto www.lacitylist.com

Apartment/ Condos/Lofts

KOREATOWN: 213-3847047 $875+up Large single, ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED, Totally remodeled. A/C, Fridge, stove, refrigerator, ceramic tiles. Gated Entry, Gated Parking Available. Elevator, Laundry room. 509 S Manhattan Pl. 213-3847047 KOREATOWN: 213-3896631 Bachelors $775 & up. ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED. Remodeled, refrigerator, Pool, Gated Entry. Laundry Room, Gated Parking Available. 245 S Reno St.

N HOLLYWOOD: 818-9801277. 1 BD $1150. Newer Bldg. Totally Remodeled. Gated entry & parking, AC, fridge, stove, dw, Pool, Laundry Room, BBQ Area 6253 Lankershim NO HO ARTS DISTRICT LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE: Jr 1 BD $985+up. ALL UTILITIES PAID, Totally remodeled. A/C, Fridge, stove. Laundry, Balcony, Ceramic tile, Gated Entry. & Parking. 5751 Camellia Ave. 818-7616620 2 WEEKS FREE WITH ONE YEAR LEASE THE PLACE TO STAY IS PALMS/ WEST LA! Single $1130+up. 1BD $1340+up. Newer Building, Gated Entry & Subterranean Parking, 2 Elevators, Air Cond. Fridge, Stove, D/W, Laundry Room, 3848 Overland 310-8393647 WEST LA: Single $1195, 1BD $1495+up. Parking, Gated Entry, Balconies, Laundry Room, Fridge and Stove, Some totally remodeled. No pets. ASK ABOUT MOVE IN SPECIALS. 1755 Purdue Ave 310-479-1079 FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR? Take a look at our website and get your business out to the pulbic. Goto www.lacitylist.com

REASONABLE PRICE, COME ON IN AND SEE FOR YOURSELF. FURNITURE 4 LESS: Why pay for more, when you can pay for less. The finest furnitures in town. We also Deliver. OPEN 7 days a week. 11142 Whittier Blvd. Whittier, CA 90606. We deliver. 562.695.4977

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S

PSYCHO SUDOKU

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD PUZZLE

FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR? Goto www. lacitylist.com KOREATOWN: 213-3847047 $875+up Large single, ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED, Totally remodeled. A/C, Fridge, stove, refrigerator, ceramic tiles. Gated Entry, Gated Parking Available. Elevator, Laundry room. 509 S Manhattan Pl. 213-3847047 KOREATOWN: 213-3896631 Bachelors $775 & up. ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED. Remodeled, refrigerator, Pool, Gated Entry. Laundry Room, Gated Parking Available. 245 S Reno St. HOME RENTAL NORTH HOLLYWOOD: 3 bdrs.2 baths Interior all brand new Large yard with pool No credit check Call 866-5996584 $999 per month ALL AREAS - ROOMMATES.COM. Browse hundreds of online listings with photos and maps. Find your roommate with a click of the mouse! Visit: www.Roommates.com. (AAN CAN)

Find What You Are Looking For?

post your ad free online

HOME RENTAL NORTH HOLLYWOOD: 3 bdrs.2 baths Interior all brand new Large yard with pool No credit check Call 866-5996584 $999 per month

MISSION HILLS: 818-9203753 Single $830+up. 1BD $1125. Newer building, totally remodeled, gated entry & parking, A/C, Dishwasher, Stove, Fridge, Laundry room, Balconies 9929 Sepulveda Blvd.

lacitylist.com

RENT A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE! BEAUTIFUL 4 BD 3.5 BTHS PARTLY FURNISHED HOUSE, FORMAL DINING ROOM, NICE SIZE KITCHEN WITH ALL APPLIANCES, A BATHROOM DOWNSTAIRS, WASHER & DRYER, PORCH, 10800’, 2 CAR GARAGE, ALARM, HIGH FENCE, GREAT FOR FAMILY WITH CHILDREN, NO PETS PLEASE. ONLY$2,750 A MONTH, 818-231-3347 or 818-705-2421

er, CA 90606. We deliver. 562.695.4977

Mind, Body & Sprit

DO NOT LET DEBT GET YOU DOWN! AVOID THE STRESS & APPLY FOR A DEBT CONSOLIDATION LOAN NOW 1-866-644-3950 WE ARE WAITING TO HELP YOU

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AUGUST 14-20, 2008 49 LACITYBEAT

MedicalResearch

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post your ad free online

To Advertise Call 323-938-1001

Painful Hemorrhoid? Lotus Clinical Research, Inc. is conducting a research study of an investigational medication for postoperative pain following hemorrhoid removal. If you qualify and participate in the study, one of their trusted board-certified surgeons will remove your hemorrhoid at no cost. Participants must be willing to complete all follow-up procedures. You may be compensated up to $500 for your time and travel. For more information, call: Lotus Clinical Research at 1-877-LOTUSCR (877-568-8727) to see if you qualify. Financial compensation is provided. 877-LOTUSCR (877-568-8727) Email: info@lotuscr.com

Are you suffering from Heartburn? Do you meet the following criteria? • Age 18 to 75 years • History of Acid reflux symptoms (such as acid regurgitation, chest or abdominal pain) for at least 3 months. • Heartburn at least 2 days a week for 1 month. If so, you may be eligible to participate in a Clinical research study. Study examinations, procedures, and investigational medication will be provided to you at no cost. If you or someone you know would like to participate in this study please contact: Dr. Timothy Simmons at 310-674-0144 West Gastroenterology Medical Group 8110 Airport Blvd. (At La Tijera) Los Angeles, CA 90045

LACITYBEAT 50 AUGUST 14-20, 2008

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Be on the BACKBEAT 323.938.1001

F R E E

PREGNANCY TESTS Women's, Pediatric, Youth Services and

FREE

Pregnancy Tests. Call 323-644-3888 or walk in. Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc. 1530 Hillhurst Avenue, Suite 200 Los Angeles, CA 90027

www.aphcv.org HAVE YOU BEEN FIRED? SEXUALLY HARASSED? DISCRIMINATED AT WORK? UNPAID WAGES & OVERTIME? Law Offices of Frank Hakim FREE CONSULTATION: (310) 789-2240

SAVE $2.00 PER GALLON OF GAS New Coupon book save you $1000’s on gas, send a self addressed envelope + $29.00 (money order only) to John Hinton,

PO BOX 82382, LA, CA 90082

RELAXING THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE & CALMING PEDICURE Relief for tired feet, goddess style! ReEnergizing treatment for men & women, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., discount w/ad on 1st visit.

(323) 353-9756

MOVIE & TELEVISION EXTRAS MAKE EXTRA MONEY Must be available 2 to 4 days during the week. Have fun working on sets with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Vision Casting, please call our General info line

LOAN OFFER We give out loan at low & high interest rate of 3% for a minimum of 5 yrs. We give out loan in these categories: personal loan, company loan, home loan, investor loan, contact for more inquiries:

thpgray02hotmail.com & thpgray02@gmail.com

HOME RENTAL NORTH HOLLYWOOD 3 bdrs and 2 baths Interior all brand new. Large yard with pool. No credit check

Call 866-599-6584 $999 per month

FREE PSYCHIC READINGS BY PHONE Farren solves all problems. Specializes in reuniting, reveals lovers true feelings. Remove Negative Energy.

1-800-527-1542 www.psychicfarren.net

FORWARD YOUR OFFICE Never miss a another sales call. We’re there when you are not. nights, weekend, holidays, scheduling, customers problems, sales and more, reasonably priced, call us

323-327-2492

HOMEOWNERS, HOLD ON TO THIS NUMBER!

UNIVERSAL PSYCHIC Tarot, Psychic and Palm Readings. Karma, Chakra, and Past Life.

3179 West Cahuenga Blvd. LA, CA 90068 Call 818-279-4448

CAREGIVERS SENT TO YOU! MooreCare in-home support for homebound patients and seniors. Keeping your loved one INDEPENDENT.

(310) 590-6441 www.moorecarebb.com

You will need a plumber & a electrician one day soon, you may find that there is also something else you want done around the house like carpentry. You now have my number, call me and ask. I give free estimates, I have 35 yrs of experience, write my number down in your phone book,

562-212-9162 for the handyman

INCOME4VACATION.COM 1K commissions, fully automated system, no cold calling, no personal ads, all you do is advertise, contact Jason www.income4vaction.com or email

CENTRAL PACIFIC CREDIT & FINANCIAL SERVICE Need a personal loan, quick sameday, fixed rate, business, auto, mortgage, debt consolidation, bad credit OK. no application fee,

866-856-7032

NANCY WILSON PSYCHIC READER TELLS ALL,

The knowing of which will dramatically change your life.

clickmaster2002@aol.com

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HANDS OF EXPERIENCE

MEET LOCAL SINGLES

Certified, Mature & Experience. Authentic Swedish / Esalen Full Body Combined with Deep Tissue & Stretching. Nurturing, Relaxing & Safe.

213.316.1055 Code 7269, 18+

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STOP WONDERING IF THE PERSON YOUR WITH IS RIGHT FOR YOU, KNOW ABOUT YOUR FUTURE NOW, FREE READING FROM 9AM-11AM,

THERE IS SOMETHING YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT LIFE...

THE TEEN LINE NEEDS YOU!

Browse/Respond FREE!

MEET PEOPLE AND NETWORK FOR BUSINESS BRAND NEW

CALL NANCY WILSON, 909-990-9306

Are you in the 9th-11th grade & want to help other teens. We are seeking teen volunteers to train for our our teen to teen hotline to help callers with any kind of problem. Training begins in October. Applications are due September 22. Call any evening 6-10pm at

INTERNATIONAL COLLECTOR ANTIQUES

1800-TLC-TEEN OR DOWNLOAD APPLICATION AT WWW.TEENLINEONLINE.ORG

WWW.WEALTH-MATRIX.COM OR DIAL 323.843.4295.

MP REVIEWS.COM

1K commissions, fully automated system, no cold calling, no personal ads, all you do is advertise, contact

I COLLECT ANTIQUES, STAMPS, COINS, COSTUME JEWELRY, WATCHES & OTHER INTERESTING ITEMS,

• Escort Reviews • Erotic Ads • Erotic Forums

CALL 714-388-2163

MASSAGE PARLOR REVIEWS

Private Members-Only Social Network is the place to be seen. If your business targets people online in any way, then you will love it here! We are a "Who's Who" Professional Social Network. Go type in:

INCOME4VACATION.COM Jason www.income4vaction.com or email clickmaster2002@aol.com

HOT LOCAL MEN

323-692-5680

Browse/Respond FREE!

MY OWN TEEN BOOK

323.648.3999 Code 5725, 18+!

“FOREIGN SERVICE AGENT” By Sidney Gelb

STRAIGHT BLACK MALE SEEKS LASTING RELATIONSHIP

www.authorhouse.com 1-888-812-6657 ORDER TODAY!

FORECLOSURE PROBLEMS

Mortgage attorney with 30 yrs of experience can advise & represent you with foreclosure & pre-fore closer problems, all options considered, reasonable fee,

818-788-1787, SCOTT WYMAN ESQ, 15915 VENTURA BLVD., SUITE 304, ENCINO, CA 91436

HELPI NG HANDS Too Busy? need help with cooking, cleaning, shopping, driving, errands, returning phone calls, remembering things, clerical work, filing , baby sitting etc....I'm here to help, I can be your personal assistant, reasonable rates to work with you, call for date and time availability

213-359-7518

with Female or couple. Race open. No Drugs.

• Need a Warrant Recalled? • Want to Smoke Pot on Probation? • All Criminal Defense, from Drugs to Murder.

Harvard Law, Affordable Office: 323-653-1850 (Ok to call from custody, 24-hours services)

(310) 988-5225

HELP WANTED Earn Extra income assembling CD cases from Home. Start Immediately. No Experience Necessary.

1-800-405-7619 ext. 150 http://www.easywork-greatpay.com

COREAN FUSION IN THE HEART OF THE MIRACLE MILE Bab Jip Restaurant, conveniently located on La Brea Avenue & 9th Street, creates adventurous Corean Fusion dishes centered around bulgogi (Corean marinated beef). Taste a new spin on mini burgers and tacos. (See ad inside Restaurant Guide). Delivery available with $15 minimum purchase. Parking. MC, V, AE BAB JIP, 850 S. La Brea Ave. #A,

Los Angeles, CA 90036. 323 935-3636

AUGUST 14-20, 2008 51 LACITYBEAT

Dare you to experience 3G speed. Exclusively from Verizon Wireless Get the boldly designed all-new LG Dare.â&#x201E;˘ Plus, Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest high-speed 3G network. >Large all-touch finger-flying QWERTY screen >Browse the Web and check email >Get spoken turn-by-turn directions with VZ NavigatorSM >Download and listen to music on the go

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VERIZON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS STORES Store hours: Monâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Fri 9amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;9pm; Sat 9amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;8pm; Sun 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;7pm. Hours at select stores and malls may vary. APPLE VALLEY Now open! 19179 Bear Valley Rd. Now Open! Apple Valley Commons (760) 247-7799 ARCADIA Santa Anita Mall Kiosk (626) 574-2040 BALDWIN HILLS Baldwin Hills Mall Kiosk (323) 291-6827 BALDWIN PARK 14540 Garvey Ave. (626) 472-6196 BURBANK Burbank Empire Center (818) 842-2722 CARSON 20820 Avalon Blvd. (310) 329-9325 CERRITOS Now Open! 12603 Towne Ctr. Drive (562) 809-5650 Los Cerritos Center Kiosk (562) 860-7714

CHINO 3825 Grand Ave. (909) 591-9740 CITY OF COMMERCE 5438 E. Whittier Blvd. (323) 725-9750 CITY OF INDUSTRY 17515 Colima Rd. (626) 839-5155 COMPTON 237 E. Compton Blvd. (310) 603-0101 CORONA 2540 Tuscany St. (951) 898-0980 390 McKinley St. (951) 549-6400 CULVER CITY 10814 Jefferson Blvd. (310) 838-1044 CYPRESS 6856 Katella Ave. (714) 899-4690 DOWNEY Stonewood Mall Kiosk (562) 904-9085 Downey Landing (562) 401-1045

FONTANA 16771 Valley Blvd. (909) 427-1800 Now Open! 16695 Sierra Lakes Pkwy. (909) 355-0725 GLENDALE 1327 Glendale Galleria (818) 553-0470 GLENDORA 1331 S. Lonehill (909) 592-5211 HAWTHORNE 5070 Rosecrans Ave. (310) 263-2949 HOLLYWOOD 1503 N. Vine St. (323) 465-0640

LAKEWOOD Lakewood Mall Kiosk (562) 408-0861 4329 Candlewood St. (562) 633-5030 LONG BEACH 2894 Bellflower Blvd. (562) 429-8223 LOS ANGELES 100 N. La Cienega Blvd. (310) 659-0775 3458 Wilshire Blvd. (213) 380-2299 LYNWOOD 3170 E. Imperial Hwy. (310) 603-0036 MARINA DEL REY 13455 Washington Blvd. (310) 821-7111

HUNTINGTON PARK 6400 Pacific Blvd. (323) 826-9880 INGLEWOOD 3419 W. Century Blvd. (310) 673-1443

MIRA LOMA 12459 Limonite Ave. (951) 361-1850

LA HABRA 1401 W. Imperial Hwy. (562) 694-8630

MONTEBELLO 2028 Montebello Town Center Dr. (323) 728-8708

VISIT THE VERIZON WIRELESS STORE INSIDE CIRCUIT CITY. STAFFED WITH VERIZON WIRELESS EMPLOYEES ď&#x161;ť EXCLUSIVE OFFERS AVAILABLE!

MONTCLAIR 5094 Montclair Plaza Ln. (909) 398-1579

BURBANK CITY OF INDUSTRY COMPTON CULVER CITY GLENDALE

HOLLYWOOD LAKEWOOD LONG BEACH LOS ANGELES

MOORPARK Now Open! 766 Los Angeles Ave. St. 6 (805) 530-0988 NORCO 1180 Hamner Ave. (951) 372-0096 ONTARIO 961 Milliken Ave. (909) 481-7897 Ontario Mills Mall (909) 987-0313 PASADENA 368 S. Lake Ave. (626) 395-0956 PICO RIVERA 8724 Washington Blvd. (562) 942-8527 REDONDO BEACH South Bay Galleria Kiosk (310) 370-7131 SANTA MONICA 2530 Wilshire Blvd. (310) 828-1279 SHERMAN OAKS 14360 Ventura Blvd. (818) 907-1871

MONTCLAIR MONTEBELLO NORTHRIDGE NORWALK

TORRANCE 24329 Crenshaw Blvd. (310) 891-6991 Now Open! 21841 Hawthorne Blvd. VALENCIA Coming Soon! 24201 Valencia Blvd., Ste. 2018 WALNUT PARK Coming Soon! 2106 E. Florence Ave. WEST COVINA West Covina Mall (626) 851-9992 West Covina Mall Kiosk (626) 939-0409 WESTWOOD Coming Soon! WHITTIER 12376 Washington Blvd. (562) 789-0911

Hablamos espaĂąol

PALMDALE PASADENA POMONA SANTA MONICA

SEAL BEACH SIGNAL HILL TORRANCE WEST COVINA

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7/28/08 12:25:43 PM

LA CITY BEAT & PASADENA WEEKLY Account Person Approval

#./6* :+39+ +; &460 & ? 212.905.7000

Closing Date: 07.28.08 INSERTION DATE:

07.31.08

VWNR-CWSC-58891 VERIZON WIRELESS 7/30 Alt. Weekly

B: None T: 9.812â&#x20AC;? x 12.625â&#x20AC;?

Account Super

Southern California

Art Director Copywriter C.D. Copy C.D. Art

Date